2002 Media Release

Robert Pressley No. 18 Dodge Race Notes

Performance Record: Martinsville Speedway
Winston Cup Series - 13 starts with a best finish of 15th in April 2000
Busch Grand National Series - 13 starts with 2 top fives and
2 top tens with a best finish of 2nd in September 1990
Craftsman Truck Series - (No Starts in Series at Facility)

Topics of Interest

Close but no Cigar: Robert Pressley has been close to tasting victory on several occasions at Martinsville Speedway in a NASCAR Busch Grand National car, but each time, he has come up a little short. Hopefully that futility will come to an end later this week when Pressley takes to the track in his No. 18 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge Ram.

"I once led 137 of 150 laps here in 1990 in a Busch car, only to have Jeff Burton pass me for the win," said Pressley. "I've always run good at Martinsville, but I just have never been able to get the win."

Pressley enters the Advance Auto Parts 250 tied for the lead in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings with Ted Musgrave. Each driver has a first place and second place finish to their credit, and each has led a lap in each event.

"Ted (Musgrave) is the man to beat all year," said Pressley. "We all knew that if we wanted to win anything this year, we'd have to beat him. But after two races in this series, I have found that there are several trucks that we have to beat every week. This is a tough series with some very talented drivers."

BHR History: The No. 18 team won the pole and finished fourth with Joe
Ruttman last year at Martinsville Speedway. The team's two other starts at
Martinsville resulted in a sixth place finish with Ruttman in 2000, and a
27th place finish with Butch Miller in 1999.

Miles Led/Miles Completed: Entering the third event of the season, Pressley has led the most miles this season, at 168.71 miles. Pressley is one of four drivers that have completed all 450.80 miles run this season.

Birthday: Pressley celebrated his 43rd birthday on Monday, April 8, 2002, at
Talladega Speedway testing the No. 55 car for truck owner, Bobby Hamilton,
due to the rain delay at Texas Motor Speedway.

Danny Gill: Gill was expecting to carrier the front tire on the No. 18 truck
this week, but that idea was scratched early in the week when one of the No. 18 trucks fell on him hurting his shoulder.

Testing: Bobby Hamilton Racing will test on Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at
Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, South Carolina on their way to
Martinsville Speedway. All three of Hamilton's teams (No. 4, No. 8, No. 18)
will be on hand for the test.

This Week's Truck: The No. 18 truck that Pressley will be racing at Martinsville Speedway is named "Angel." Its first race was Martinsville last year, and it also won at Pikes Peak with Ruttman last season.

Performance Chart: Angel

DATE RACE START/FINISH DRIVER
4-7-01 Martinsville 3 15 Bobby Hamilton
5-12-01 Darlington 5 5 Joe Ruttman
5-20-01 Pikes Peak 2 1 Joe Ruttman
6-1-01 Dover 4 8 Joe Ruttman
6-30-01 Milwaukee 2 6 Joe Ruttman
7-7-01 Kansas 6 24 Joe Ruttman
7-21-01 Loudon 3 8 Joe Ruttman
8-3-01 IRP 3 4 Bobby Hamilton
9-6-01 Richmond 16 7 Bobby Hamilton
10-14-01 Las Vegas 13 8 Joe Ruttman
11-3-01 California 15 16 Joe Ruttman

Team Continuing Sponsor Hunt: The team is still searching for a primary sponsor to join Dodge Motorsports and team in their assault on the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship.

"Hopefully there is a company out there that can see what a great opportunity we have here on this team," said Hamilton. "We've put together a team that can contend week in and week out for victory, so I have very little doubt that someone will not want to join us this season."

Pressley Quotes

"It's going to take a little time to get to know everyone on the team, but so far so good. Bobby (Hamilton) has put together a talented group of guys on this team, and they all have the desire to win. We just have to go through the learning curve and the first half of the season, and then we'll be able to hopefully reach our goal this year."


Pressley's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results

Best Start: 3rd @ Darlington Speedway 3-15-02
Best Finish: 1st @ Daytona International Speedway 2-15-02
Biggest Purse: $ 81,635 @ Daytona International Speedway 2-15-02

Robert Pressley - Personal Info:
Birth date - April 8, 1959 (43)
Wife - Gina
Children - Coleman, Shelby
Residence - Asheville, NC

Robert Pressley-Fast Facts…
NASCAR Career (1984-2002)
Winston Cup - 205 Starts, 0 wins
Busch Grand - 205 Starts, 10 wins

2002 Truck Series Season
Starts - 2
Poles - 0
Wins - 1
Top fives - 2
Top tens - 2
Earnings - $ 107,510
Laps Led - 82 of 247
Races Led - 2 of 2
DNF's - 0

Truck Series Career Statistics
Starts - 2 (237th all-time)
Poles - 0
Wins - 1 (Tied for 24th all-time)
Top fives - 2
Top tens - 2
Earnings - $ 107,510 (99th all-time)
 

©2002 Bobby Hamilton Racing