This month, Velocity resumes
its cross-country road trip to open the garage doors and lift the hoods of
four-wheeled treasures that have had a profound effect on American culture.
Three-time NASCAR champion crew chief Ray Evernham returns as host of AMERICARNA, scouting the incredible
hidden stories of American automotive history that defined our cultural
identity. From the last car Elvis Presley drove, to the epic memoir of the Ford
Mustang and a tour of prototype cars in the General Motors vault, AMERICARNA presents a look at our
national story through the lens of one of its greatest inventions: the
automobile. Season two of AMERICARNA world
premieres Tuesday, February 17th with
two all-new episodes back-to-back at 10:00
PM (ET/PT) and 10:30PM (ET/PT).
“Cars have been a part of my
life for as long as I can remember, both personally and professionally”, said
Ray Evernham. “I’d like to think that my experience very much mirrors the
American automobile experience. Cars are an undeniable part of our history and
this season of AMERICARNA
tackles some of the most extraordinary accounts from America’s automotive
story.”
In the season premiere, Ray is
granted unprecedented access to Elvis Presley’s personal warehouse at
Graceland. From the clothes he wore, to the television he watched, to the cars
he drove, AMERICARNA’s intimate
look at some of The King’s most prized possessions is a TV first. With special
guests Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ray reveals
the pristine restoration of Elvis’s beloved Stutz Blackhawk at Charlotte Motor
Speedway and gives audiences an exclusive look at the van he once used to sneak
out of Graceland.
“Velocity has seen its fair
share of classic cars over the years, but what if those cars could talk? What
kind of amazing stories would they share? AMERICARNA highlights the pastimes of these automobiles and we
couldn’t feel more grateful to have Ray Evernham as our tour guide. With
stories including legends Carroll Shelby, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Dale
Earnhardt Jr. and even Elvis himself, this season is the ultimate car guy’s
take on American cultural history,” said Robert Scanlon, general manager of
Velocity.
New episodes for this season include:
“Elvis
Vault”
Elvis’
Stutz Blackhawk and Incognito Paneled Van
Season
Premiere February 17th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
The
last car Elvis
Presley drove the evening he passed away was his beloved Stutz
Blackhawk. Ray wants to help document the preservation and heads to
Graceland to check out this iconic piece of American music history. Ray and the
team reveal the restoration of the car at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Rick Hendrick (“Mr. H”) and
arguably Elvis Presley’s biggest fan, Dale Earnhardt Jr. While at Graceland, Ray
and the team also get an exclusive look at the paneled station wagon Elvis used
to get in and out of Graceland in disguise. It’s an intimate look at the King’s
incredible automobile and the secrets about his cars only Elvis knew.
“Band
of Brothers”
History
of the Owens Corning Corvette
Premieres
February 17th at 10:30 PM (ET/PT)
This
episode takes an inside look at the famous racing L88 Corvette: From its
history, to its successes and heartbreaks, to the stories of the men that drove
it. Now, it’s a car world’s version of the Flintstones meet the Jetsons,
as the Owens Corning Corvette - that clinched 22 straights races, making it the
winningest Corvette in racing history - challenges the new Corvette C7-R at the
track. The Owens Corning team reunites for the challenge at Sebring on
March 11, 2014, and the crew went behind the scenes for the Corvette test drive
of a lifetime.
“Break
Up to Make Up”
Ray
Evernham and Jeff Gordon’s 1999 Pepsi Car
Premieres
February 24th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
From
break up to make up, Jeff Gordon and Ray reunite revive their Chevrolet Monte Carlo
that claimed victory in their final race together at Phoenix, AZ in 1999. John
Bickford makes the call that reunites the old team. Jeff and Ray look to
bum parts off their boss – Rick Hendrick - to make their vision a
reality: get the car, replace the parts as they were, make it run and get
it to auction. Jeff and Ray work to restore the car back to its former glory
and tell their story about their last season together and how they won at every
track on the circuit at that time. We see the old mullets and mustaches – as
well as talk about the pressure of winning that last race. The finale of the
episode concludes at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale where the car is auctioned off
for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
“Battle
for Rome”
Ritchie
Evans and Jerry Cook’s Rival Cars
Premieres
March 3rd at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
One
of the greatest battles in NASCAR history was Hall of Famer Richie Evans
and rival speedster Jerry Cook. Ray is determined to uncover - and revive- the cars
that made these men famous. They purchase the car from Jimmy Spencer and take
us through the side-by-side restoration process of Ritchie Evans #61 car and a
replica of Jerry Cook’s #38 car. Through the build Ray uncovers legends’
stories through the eyes of guys who were there in Rome, NY, like Robin
Pemberton and Steve Hmiel. Both cars will hit the track at Martinsville – site
of one of the greatest races in modified history and the tragic death of Richie
Evans himself. Legends live again as Ray recreates one the racing world’s
most celebrated rivalries on a track that has seen it all.
“Secrets
of GM Design”
General
Motors Concept Cars
Premieres
March 10th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
General Motors VP of
global design Ed Welburn
takes AmeriCarna behind the scenes to talk about the history and development of
the company’s concept cars that never made it to production. In a rare
tour at the factory’s inner design studio, Ray gets an exclusive look behind
the creative curtain at the GM plant in Detroit.
“The
First Mustang”
Highlighting
Mustang Milestones for 50 Years
Premieres
March 17th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
In
this episode, Ray celebrates the 50th birthday of the Ford Mustang through the
lens of three distinct Mustang owners who hold a slice of the car’s incredible
history. In Chicago 1964, schoolteacher Gail Wise unknowingly purchased the
first ever Mustang to ever be sold to consumers. It was three days before it
became available to the public and her husband reveals the incredible
restoration that brought the earliest Mustang ever sold back to its 60’s glory.
John Grafelman is a farmer in Illinois and life-long Ford lover. A few years
ago he found an old car hidden in a barn – it took some time but he convinced
his friend to sell it to him. After some detective work he discovers he
purchased 1968 Ford Design Chief Larry Shinoda’s personal car he tinkered with
to invent the BOSS 302. Lastly, Ray travels to Dayton Ohio to interview Gale
Holderman the Mustang stylist who won the company’s contest to draw and design
Mustang.
“Forgotten
Fiberglass”
1950’s
Glasspar Cars
Premieres
March 24th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
Post
World War II, a large generation of American soldiers were looking for cars
that mirrored the incredible sports cars they saw overseas in Europe. After
searching for an affordable way to recreate these, one manufacturer responded
with a durable, cost effective option: a line of fiberglass sports cars. Very
few of these cars still exist but there are collectors who are constantly
looking to save pieces and parts of these virtually unknown vehicles – many of
them at the Smithsonian Museum. This episode presents a unique look at how the
narrative of American war time experiences often shaped the nation’s automotive
demands.
“Surprising
Discoveries in New Jersey”
An
Inspired Schultz & A Mario Andretti Barn Find
Premieres
March 31st at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
Ray
explores buying a unique, hand built car that the Schultz family has kept in
their New Jersey home for years. The car was originally called the Schultz El
Fierro but it’s officially titled in New as a “Schultz Special” from 1958. It
was used to drag race and held numerous racing records, but most important to
that family was that it was driven by the legendary Carroll Shelby. With a frame and style
much similar to the Shelby Roadster, the Schultz family wonders if it inspired
one of the most wellknown automobiles in America. In another epic New Jersey
story, Ray finds Mario Andretti’s 1965 Indy car. The catch: it’s completely in
pieces hidden away in a garage. The iconic driver talks about his days on the
track with that car and Ray attempts to negotiate a deal to buy the parts.
“Million
Dollar Movie Cars”
Casting
Cars In Major Motion Pictures
Premieres
April 7th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
How
do you cast a car in a movie? What are the secrets to the build?
Hollywood car designers give Ray the ultimate tour of some memorable movie
cars. Includes a look at the recently found “Hells Chariot” – last surviving
car from original Grease movie, the backstory of “Bumble Bee” from Tranformers,
the making of tank from Hunger Games, and the iconic 1968 Chevy Impala from
American Graffiti.
“Hot
Rodders Holy Grail”
The
Legacy of Willie Glass
Season
Finale April 14th at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)
While
visiting the estate of automotive genius and land speed record holder Willie Glass,
Ray discovers a lost set of the extremely rare Ardun Heads – a hot rodder’s
dream discovery. He visits the infamous H & H Flatheads outside Los
Angeles and discovers a surprise connection to the Earnhardt family.
Florida
Power & Light Company and Daytona International Speedway today announced
plans to install commercial-scale distributed solar power at the “World Center
of Racing,” complementing the ongoing $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment
project. 
