Riggs has proven himself to be a hands-on sort of driver. Credit: Autostock

Evernham adds Riggs as driver of No. 10 Dodge
By B. Duane Cross, NASCAR.COM
August 27, 2005
04:41 PM EDT (20:41 GMT)

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Admitting it was the "worst kept secret in NASCAR," Ray Evernham has harnessed the final horse for his 2006 Nextel Cup stable.

Scott Riggs, who has become synonymous with the No. 10 Valvoline car, will move from MBV to pilot the same setup for Evernham Motorsports beginning next season.


Scott Riggs File
Cup Series
Year No. W T5 T10

2004 35 0 1 2
2005 23 0 2 4
Totals 58 0 3 6


Busch Series
Year No. W T5 T10

2002 34 2 8 13
2003 34 2 11 17
2005 1 0 0 0
Totals 69 4 19 30


Truck Series
Year No. W T5 T10

1999 2 0 0 0
2000 17 0 1 8
2001 24 5 14 16
Totals 43 5 15 24


"We're excited about the opportunity to work with Scott Riggs," Evernham said. "He and I have been talking about working together for some time now.

"Scott has shown he can be a winner in NASCAR's Busch and Craftsman Truck series and we look forward to getting him to the winner's circle next season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in the No. 10 Valvoline Dodge Charger."

Valvoline will be the primary sponsor for at least 22 races and an associate sponsor for the remaining events on the 2006 schedule.

Riggs, 34, had been playing the wait-and-see game during the past several months, opting not to sign a new contract with MBV in the hopes that a higher-profile ride would become available.

"Everything is coming together slowly but surely, and everybody will know in a couple of weeks," Riggs said last week at Michigan.

On Saturday, that came to pass.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity to continue my relationship with Valvoline and join the Evernham Motorsports family," Riggs said. "Ray Evernham is a great leader and has proven that he can put drivers in the winner's circle.

"And Valvoline has been a great supporter of mine, so I'm excited to continue driving for them. It's a great partnership for all of us, since we all have motor oil in our veins."

Riggs is in his second full season of Cup competition. He posted a career-best second-place finish at Michigan last week, his best showing since a fourth-place run in the season-opening Dayton 500.

Evernham Motorsports
Cup statistics
Driver No. W T5 T10

C. Atwood 41 0 1 4
B. Elliott 120 4 20 35
K. Kahne 59 1 18 20
J. Mayfield 131 2 15 25
H. Parker Jr. 1 0 0 0
Totals 352 7 54 94


In 58 career starts, Riggs has three top-five finishes and six top-10s.

Riggs joins teammates Kasey Kahne, who recently signed a long-term extension, and Jeremy Mayfield in the Evernham garage. Bill Elliott also runs a limited schedule for the team.

Valvoline and Evernham had announced their partnership earlier this summer.

"This is the next step in our quest for a championship," Evernham said. "In today's competitive environment, you need a multiple-car team to win races and championships. When you have more race teams, it speeds your development and learning tremendously.

'With this expansion, we can compete more effectively against other multiple-car organizations.

"Having Valvoline as a partner -- not just a sponsor -- makes this an incredible program," he said. "They have been a tremendous supporter of mine for many years, and our relationship has now grown into joint ownership of a team.

"Valvoline has a great history in this sport, and a deep understanding of what it takes to be successful. I look forward to winning championships with them."

Evernham has been a Cup car owner since 2000, when he fielded Fords for Casey Atwood in three races. The next year, Atwood and Elliott ran the full season for Evernham with Dodges, earning the pole for the Daytona 500 in the manufacturer's return to stock car racing. The team's first victory came when Elliott took the checkered flag at Homestead on Nov. 11, 2001.

Mayfield joined the team in 2002 and Kahne came on board last year, winning rookie of the year honors.

This season, Mayfield is sixth in the standings, 399 points behind leader Tony Stewart but only 30 behind fifth-place Mark Martin with three races remaining before the Chase begins at New Hampshire on Sept. 18.

Kahne is 19th and out of Chase contention.