Hendrick drivers scheduled to participate in January events

CONCORD, N.C. – Fans will have two opportunities to interact with their favorite Hendrick Motorsports drivers this month before the start of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are scheduled to appear during the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at historic Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in mid-January and at the NASCAR Preview 2012 at Charlotte Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 21. 

During the Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, drivers will participate in NASCAR Sprint Cup testing to prepare for 2012 Speedweeks and the 54th annual Daytona 500.Events planned for the weekend include driver autograph sessions, interactive driver question-and-answer sessions, a photo opportunity with the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy and activities in the FANZONE.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers currently are scheduled to meet with fans at the following times in the FANZONE:

Thursday, Jan. 12

•5 p.m., local time – Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet

•6 p.m. – Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet

Friday, Jan. 13

•5 p.m. – Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet

•6 p.m. – Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet

Tickets for the weekend are $20 and available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Children age 12 and under will receive free admission. Ticket holders can take advantage of free infield camping during Fan Fest on a first-come, first-served basis.

Advanced reservations for the driver autograph sessions are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Additional sessions will be held on both days with wristbands available the day of the event.

Later this month, fans can connect with their favorite Hendrick Motorsports drivers during the NASCAR Preview 2012 on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Beginning Saturday at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center Ballroom, wristbands will be distributed to a limited number of fans. Recipients must have an event ticket to be eligible to receive a wristband.

The drivers currently are scheduled to meet with fans at the following times:

•10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Gordon and Johnson

•12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – Kahne

•2:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. – Earnhardt

Gordon fans will have another chance later that day to see the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet driver at the Hall of Fame. He is scheduled to appear with Richard Petty during the “DuPont 20 Years” event and paint scheme unveiling at the Hall of Fame.

The event, emceed by Ricky Craven, will take place from 1-2 p.m. Gordon and Petty will speak about the importance of the Nov. 15, 1992, race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which was Gordon’s first career Cup start and Petty’s last. The two drivers also will discuss the parallels and differences of their racing careers.

Tickets to NASCAR Preview 2012 start at just $10 for individual event admission. A discounted $20 combo ticket includes admission to both the Preview event and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, while a $299 VIP weekend package includes all NASCAR Acceleration Weekend events, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000