Jeff Gordon and former
crew chief Ray Evernham will team up again in 2015.
On Jan. 16 in Scottsdale,
Arizona, the duo will auction off their final race-winning car at
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. Proceeds from the sale of the 1999 No. 24 Pepsi
Chevrolet Monte Carlo that won the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series (then known
as the NASCAR Busch Series) race at Phoenix International Raceway will benefit
Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation.
In 1999, Gordon/Evernham
Motorsports was formed to compete in six NASCAR XFINITY Series races with
Gordon as driver and Evernham as crew chief.
"It was fun to create a
new team with Ray and forge a stronger relationship with Pepsi," said
Gordon. "It was cool to work with Ray in that capacity, and that car was
so memorable. And to think that was our final race win together.
"I've had the pleasure of
being associated with past charitable cars that have been auctioned at
Barrett-Jackson, and I can't wait to be there next week when this car is on the
block."
Evernham hosts Velocity's AmeriCarna,
and the television series will feature the restoration and sale of this 1999
No. 24 Chevrolet (Lot No. 3007; scheduled to be auctioned at 7 p.m. local time)
during an upcoming episode.
"The heart of AmeriCarna
is uncovering long-lost four-wheeled treasures that played a large part in a
person's past," said Evernham, who guided Gordon to three championships
and 47 victories as crew chief of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup
Series entry. "The No. 24 car has been an unmistakable artifact of my
career and holds a unique spot in NASCAR history. Reviving the car's
championship glory with my long-time friend has been a labor of love.
"We're proud to revisit
its history in an upcoming episode of AmeriCarna, and I'm looking
forward to being a part of this great event when we auction the car to benefit
Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation."
Gordon began supporting
organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society early in his NASCAR
career, and the diagnosis of Evernham's son with leukemia in 1992 inspired
Gordon to establish his foundation in hopes of helping children facing critical
illnesses realize their dreams. What started as a small project driven by one
special child has grown into an organization that has granted more than $15
million for children's charities.
"I'm so proud of what the
foundation has been able to accomplish, but there is so much that still needs
to be done," Gordon said. "I just want to thank Ray, Barrett-Jackson
and everyone involved in this project. The proceeds from this sale will make a
tremendous impact on the lives of many children battling cancer."
No comments:
Post a Comment