Hendrick Fan Fest Kicked Off Winning Weekend

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 9, 2004) – Even before Kyle Busch won the May 29 CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in his No. 5 Chevrolet, and Jimmie Johnson dominated the next day’s 600-mile event in his No. 48 Monte Carlo, Hendrick Motorsports was already celebrating. The organization, marking its 20th anniversary in 2004, was overwhelmed by the success of the three-day fan festival at its Charlotte-based headquarters. After two decades of racing in NASCAR’s top series, Hendrick Motorsports held the event to thank race fans for their support of the team. Over a three-day span, thousands attended the affair, which ran from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The festival featured the unveiling of the No. 24 DuPont/Pepsi “Play for a Billion” scheme that Jeff Gordon will drive in the Pepsi 400 on July 3. The car is designed to highlight Pepsi’s “Play for a Billion” sweepstakes, which will give someone the opportunity to win $1 billion. In addition, the celebration included show cars and numerous interactive games and informational displays, courtesy of team sponsors. Exhibits included the Pepsi Stage and sampling booth; Tropicana’s peddle kart track; Club Car’s obstacle course; a Lays taste-test sampling booth; Chevrolet’s vehicle display; DuPont’s “Hot Hues” display; Quaker State’s “Power Crew Exhibit” with race simulators; Thunderdome Racing’s micro-reality race track; a Gatorade sampling booth; and the Lowe’s “Kids Corner,” where children built wooden race cars. Terry Labonte Chevrolet had motor homes on show, while CARQUEST and Kellogg’s had blow-up displays on site. Information was available from EMP; Shop-Vac; Gladiator GarageWorks; Delphi; GMAC; UGS-PLM Solutions; Briggs & Stratton; and Pella, along with the Hendrick Marrow Program and Jeff Gordon Foundation. Additionally, 14 past and present Hendrick Motorsports drivers were on-hand over the course of the festival to sign autographs, including Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Joe Nemechek, David Green, Geoffrey Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, Jerry Nadeau, Ricky Craven, Jack Sprague and Ron Hornaday. Fans were also able to tour the race shops and visit the 15,000-square-foot Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Team Store, which offered extended hours during the festival. Food was available from Gone Hog Wild BBQ, with 10 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Hendrick Marrow Program.