---

Shell Oil Products to Run Joe Gibbs Racing BGN Car, Continues Winston Cup Comittment

31 July 1997

SHELL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY ANNOUNCES NASCAR AGREEMENT WITH JOE GIBBS RACING 
 

HOUSTON, TX - July 31, 1997 - Shell Oil Products Company announced today an 
agreement with the Joe Gibbs Racing Team to run a Shell-sponsored car on the 
NASCAR circuit. Young racing sensation Tony Stewart, last year's Indianapolis 
500 Rookie of the Year and a leading driver in the Indy Racing League (IRL), 
has been tapped to drive the car in the 1998 Busch Grand National Series. 
Shell will also continue as an associate sponsor of the Joe Gibbs Interstate 
Batteries Winston Cup car and driver Bobby Labonte.

To mark the beginning of Stewart's Shell racing career, he will run in a 
limited number of Busch races this year. In 1998, Stewart will participate in 
the full Busch series, as well as possibly entering some Winston Cup races 
later in the year. 

"We are extremely pleased and proud of our relationship with this truly great 
racing team," says Chuck Shepherd, Shell's General Manager of Retail Programs 
and Development. "By expanding our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing, Shell 
is taking the next step to becoming a major player in NASCAR racing and 
utilizing the rising popularity of NASCAR to communicate with our customers."

Stewart, 26, is a native of Rushville, Indiana. In 1995, he became the first 
driver in USAC history to win the series' top three divisions all in one year 
-- Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown. As a rookie, Stewart started last year's 
Indianapolis 500 on the pole and led the race for 44 laps. His 1997 IRL 
highlights include a first place finish at the Samsonite 200, second place at 
the Phoenix 200 and a top ten finish at the recent VisionAire 500K in 
Charlotte, NC. Stewart is the current IRL points leader with two races left 
in the season.

Veteran Bobby Labonte will also continue to drive under the Shell logo in a 
number of select races on the Busch circuit this year. Labonte, a native of 
Corpus Christi, Texas, has played a key role in the growing success of 
Shell's racing team.

Shell Oil Products Company is the leading gasoline retailer in the United 
States and sells its products through approximately 9,000 service stations in 
39 states and Washington, D.C.

By Shell Oil Products Public Relations