Riggs confirmed in place of Benson for 2004.

The transformation at MB2/MBV Motorsport took another stride towards completion on Thursday with the news that current Busch Series driver Scott Riggs will replace veteran Johnny Benson behind the wheel of the #10 Valvoline Pontiac beginning with the 2004 season.

Riggs, who currently sits in fifth place in the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series standings just 44 points behind leader Brian Vickers, is competing in his second Busch campaign for the #10 ppc Racing Nesquik team and has gained a total of four victories. His career with MBV Motorsports will begin with the first ever NASCAR Nextel Cup event, the 2004 Daytona 500.

Riggs replaces Johnny Benson, who will complete the 2003 season in the No. 10 car. Benson has been an integral part of MBV's history as he was the driver of the-then unsponsored #10 Tri-Star Motorsports Pontiac that almost won the 2000 Daytona 500 and prompted Valvoline to become the first consumer products company to ever take a co-ownership/primary sponsorship role with a Winston Cup team. Benson also overcame an injury riddled 2002 season to claim the team's first ever Winston Cup victory at the North Carolina Speedway.

"Johnny Benson is a tough, talented driver with a lot of heart, "said designated team owner and senior vice president of the Valvoline company James Rocco. "He gave the team its first win and is a good ambassador for Valvoline Racing. We wish him the best."

"Scott Riggs is a winner," Rocco continued. "He is a hard-charger who has excelled in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series. He has the talent to compete at the NASCAR Nextel Cup level and continue Valvoline's winning legacy."

Riggs, 32, began his racing career on two-wheels in motocross competition. He moved into NASCAR's Mini Stock Division at age 17 and posted 12 wins in just three years. The Bahama, North Carolina native conquered Late Model Stock Cars next and was named track champion at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., twice before joining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2000. In 2001, Riggs finished fifth in points with five wins, 14 top-five finishes, 16 top-10 finishes and five pole positions in 24 events.

Riggs moved into the NASCAR Busch Series in 2002. He earned Rookie of the Year honours after winning two events and scoring 13 top-10 finishes en route to a 10th place finish in the series point standings. This season, Riggs has led the Busch Series points several times and posted wins at Nashville Superspeedway and Gateway International Raceway.

"I've been blessed to have had some great rides in my racing career and some great people helping me along the way," Riggs said. "I explored several excellent NASCAR Nextel Cup opportunities as well as offers to remain in the Busch Series and I decided the Valvoline Pontiac was the best place for me to be at this stage of my career.

"I appreciate the confidence Valvoline and MBV Motorsports have placed in me," Riggs explained. "I'm going to work with the team to get everything I can out of the cars and hope to reward them with some wins."

Riggs' appointment should draw to a close what has been a turbulent year for the MB2/MBV teams. After original #01 U.S. Army driver Jerry Nadeau got injured at Richmond in May, the MB2 team went through several drivers before settling on Joe Nemechek for the 2004 season while Benson's crew chief James Ince has already left the #10 team, being replaced by Jay Guy.