"This has been a win-win situation for CarQuest," stated Scott Ginsburg, CarQuest director of advertising. "We are extremely pleased to continue our relationship with such a great team for the 1999 season."

Romine will run nine NHRA events, beginning with the Arizona Nationals.

"Pennzoil is very excited to add Shawn Collins and Richie Stevens to our team," Tom Floyd, Pennzoil's chief marketing officer, said. "The Pro Stock division is one of the most competitive divisions in all of racing, and we believe it's a great platform to showcase the advantages of our product. In their first year on the circuit, the Collins team has demonstrated outstanding professionalism and performance both on and off the track. We're proud to have them on our team."

Collins Racing joined the NHRA ranks at the beginning of the 1998 season. After just five races, the team entered an agreement with Pennzoil Pro Stock driver Mike Thomas and began leasing a pair of Thomas' Finish Line Racing Engines. Since then, the two drivers have combined for 14 round-wins, and Stevens has ascended to ninth place in the Winston Pro Stock points standings.

"It's an honor to be associated with Pennzoil," Collins said. "The fact that Pennzoil recognized our efforts and rewarded us with this deal is a real testament to what we've been able to accomplish in our first year. I'm confident that Pennzoil will be pleased with our performance both in Pomona and throughout the next year. I firmly believe that this is a win-win situation for all of us."

"NEC is very proud to announce our continued relationship with Gary Densham," said Frank Viola, director of marketing and communications for the Corporate Network Group of NEC America Inc. "Gary has been and continues to be a great role model for our company and a tremendous marketing asset for NEC. Over the past three years, our involvement with Gary has been nothing less than pure excitement. The amount of exposure he has generated for NEC far exceeded our expectations, and we are delighted to renew our contract with him through the year 2000."

While announcing his agreement with NEC, Densham, 51, also unveiled a new red and white paint scheme that will adorn a new Pontiac Firebird body next season.

"This is a great day for our team," Densham said. "To stay on with NEC is a real boost for all of us. This allows us to continue running a top-notch car that is capable of winning every race we enter. Without NEC, we couldn't do that. Now, our goal is to reward NEC and their loyalty by putting the car in victory circle on a regular basis in 1999."

The division of NEC America Inc. involved with Densham Motorsports is the Corporate Network Group. This section of NEC manufactures and markets PBX, wireless, and digital key telephone systems, facsimile equipment, and data and video communication products.