CONCORD, N.C. – At Darlington Raceway this weekend, the throwback feel of the Southern 500 won’t be limited to the race cars on the track.
It will even extend to the Chevrolets leading the field to the green flag.
Darlington Raceway and Chevrolet have partnered to put all six generations of the Camaro on the track to pace the field to kick off the event, and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick will serve as one of the pace car drivers.
Hendrick will pilot a 1969 Camaro, built from the ground up at Hendrick Performance and featuring a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine with 400 horsepower. Following the event, Hendrick’s first-generation “Pro-Touring” 1969 Camaro will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Joining him in the pace cars will be several fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers, including three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Ray Evernham driving a 1986 Camaro and Ron Hornaday Jr. – who drove the No. 5 Cup car for Hendrick Motorsports in 2000 as a sub for Terry Labonte and the No. 5 truck for six races during the 2002 season – behind the wheel of a 2011 Camaro.
In total, seven Camaros will hit the track “Too Tough to Tame” to create a once-in-a-lifetime moment before the green flag even waves.
“Camaro is an iconic brand, and what better way to start the Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s most celebrated events, than by pacing the field with six generations of Camaros driven by several NASCAR legends and Hall of Famers,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet US vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports.
The Southern 500 is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET this Sunday, Sept. 2, and will be broadcast on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Hendrick Motorsports’ 14 wins at Darlington are the most all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, and its six different winners at the track are tied for the most all-time.
Check out more photos of the 1969 Camaro in which Hendrick will pace the field below.
