JEFFERSON TAKES PRIDE IN BEING FIRST DODGE DRIVER TO WIN IN

NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY DODGE

YAKIMA, Wash. (April 12, 2002) – Jason Jefferson knew that making a switch from a proven manufacturer to the new Dodge Intrepid on the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, presented by Dodge would create some challenges. Winning, something the 25-year old driver is used to doing in bunches, might come a little less in an unproven race car. The learning curve took just one racing weekend.

Jefferson picked up a 40-lap main event win at Tri-City Raceway located in West Richland, Wash. on Saturday, April 6. In doing so, he became the first Dodge driver in the country to win a feature event in the new Dodge Intrepid.

The significance of the victory has just started to sink in to his mind set according to the Yakima, Wash. native.

“It’s a little early (claiming a victory) after making the switch but with the group of guys we have, I knew we could get a win sometime during the year,” Jefferson said. “I just didn’t think it could come in our first race of the new season on the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge.”

After many years of trying to gain dealer and company support from his commitment to the prior manufacture, Jefferson is elated with the backing he has received since making the change to Dodge.

“I have to give a big thank you to Mike Olson Dodge in Yakima and Wheeler Logging for giving the chance to drive this Dodge Intrepid at Tri-City Raceway,” Jefferson said. “Without their support and the great equipment that my car owner, Doug Betteral has given me, I know I could not be here talking about this historic win.”

The Better-All Motorsports team is building a new late model race car for debut later in the year. Jefferson left no doubt as to what body style and motor program will go into the new machine.

“We’re about a month away (from completion) and we’re going to build it to be another Dodge,” he said.

According to Jefferson, the changing of the guard at short tracks across the country was a big reason for taking the gamble of changing to a Dodge Intrepid from the faithful machine the team had used to gain three track championships and a third place finish in the 2001 NASCAR Northwest Regional standings for the Weekly Racing Series.

“Dodge has brought a lot of excitement to the grass roots level of racing and it’s an added incentive to run the Dodge,” Jefferson said. “It allows our team the chance to get support from a local dealer so we can go racing at this high of a level.”

Mike Olson Dodge has used Jefferson’s car in its advertising campaigns across the region. Dodge has a strong following in the Northwest and Jefferson is excited about being part of the growing trend to purchase Dodge products.

“Dodge is marketing the Northwest very heavily,” he said. “They have billboards and other advertising tools. We’ve gotten a lot of media coverage because of the win and the switch but, it’s not about our team, it’s about promoting Mike Olson Dodge and his car lot and Dodge as a company that is behind grass roots racing.”

With the win, Jefferson said some added pressure is on his team to bring home the Northwest Regional Championship in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge.

“This is as good a late model race car that our team has ever had. I want to move up to the next level with Dodge and see how far we can go,” he said. “If we keep working hard and we know it won’t be easy, I think we can make all of this work out to our advantage.”

“It would be a whole lot sweeter if we’re on top at the end of the year in this Dodge.”