Hendrick shows his love for Corvettes
Car owner drops $1.65M on models from 1955, ’56, ’57
Some folks collect high-end die-cast models that can run for less than 100 bucks. And then there is Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports.
Hendrick dropped nearly $4 million at the Barrett-Jackson Collector-Car Auction in Arizona recently, picking up a few things on his wish list during a two-day spending spree in Scottsdale.
His haul included the first production 2017 Acura NSX hybrid sports car ($1.2 million) and three Corvettes in sequential years with VIN No. 001 — models from 1955, ’56 and ’57 ($1.65 million).
Hendrick owns a collection of more than 200 cars at the Hendrick Motorsports complex in Concord, N.C.
“I’m a little surprised, because I spent days with him here and he’s like, ‘Aw, I’m not really looking for anything, I’m not planning on buying anything,’” former Hendrick driver
Jeff Gordon said after the bidding was done. “But I’ve got to say when I saw VIN No. 1, VIN No. 1, VIN No. 1 [the three Corvettes], it made me think of him. I had no idea he was going to do that. ... But I’m not surprised because he loves his Corvettes.”
Gordon goes VIP:
Don’t fret if you’re not one of the cool kids invited to Jeff Gordon’s VIP party. Only 200 folks will snag an invite to the Fox Sports and SI VIP Party that will air on Feb. 20, the night before the Daytona 500. Fox is airing a crosspromotional deal involving the race and 2016 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which comes out Feb. 15.
The event, set from the Halifax River Yacht Club in Daytona Beach, will air on Fox affiliates at 9 p.m. and will feature models Erin Heatherton and Hannah Ferguson. The broadcast also will spotlight the Daytona Rising renovation project and the upcoming NASCAR season.
“The Daytona 500 is such a huge event, it deserves a great party to kick the season off,” Gordon said. “Thanks to Fox and Sports Illustrated, we will have the most exclusive and entertaining party the sport has ever seen.”
Stenhouse, Mears Un
limited: The lineup for the Sprint Unlimited this Saturday night got shuffled with the absence of
Tony Stewart (injury) and Jeff Gordon (retirement). Ricky Stenhouse
Jr. and Casey Mears will get bumped up to join the field in the 75-lap exhibition race, featuring 25 drivers.
If an eligible driver is unable to enter the race, the open slots are filled based on 2015 Cup Series driver points. Other drivers who have qualified include Danica Patrick (a former Daytona 500 pole winner), Dale Earn
hardt Jr. (race winner)
and Aric Almirola and Kyle Larson (points). The event will air live from Daytona International Speedway, starting at 8 p.m. (Fox).