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NASCAR-BGN: Shell Team to Skip California and South Boston NASCAR Busch Events

16 July 1998

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Shell team will not participate in next two NASCAR Busch Grand National Series events due to Tony Stewarts contractual commitment with Menard Racing to compete in the Indy Racing League (IRL). Stewart will be competing in the IRL event at Dover, Delaware the weekend of the July 19 Kenwood Home and Car Audio 300 at California Speedway. He will race the IRL event at Charlotte Motor Speedway missing the July 25 South Boston 300 at South Boston Speedway.

Bobby Labonte, Stewarts teammate, will be unavailable to fill in for Stewart at California as a result of his Winston Cup team testing schedule. The weekend of the South Boston event, Labonte will be competing in the Pennsylvania 500 for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Pocono Raceway.

Although we have known since the beginning of the season there would be scheduling conflicts for both Bobby and myself, said Stewart, I am disappointed that the Shell team will miss two NASCAR Busch Grand National events. I am grateful to Shell Oil and Joe Gibbs Racing for allowing me the opportunity to fulfill my IRL commitment to Team Menard. Im looking forward to being back in the Shell Pontiac in Indianapolis.

The next scheduled event for Stewart and the Shell Pontiac NASCAR Busch Grand National team is the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park July 31, 1998.