Chevy Nextel Cup Series Drivers To Compete In Michigan With Special '57
Chevy Paint Schemes. Monte Carlo SS Race Cars of 11 Team Chevy Drivers Will Commemorate 50th
Anniversary of 1957 Chevrolet
BROOKLYN, Mich. - At Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan
International Speedway (MIS), it will be NASCAR Nextel Cup Series racing
as usual but a closer look at some of the competitors' cars may reveal
some special details that haven't been seen at a NASCAR track in as many
as 50 years. Eleven Team Chevy drivers will be commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the '57 Chevy by sporting cues from the iconic 1957
design on their race cars. To commemorate this special event,
Motorsports Authentics is offering die-cast models, apparel and novelty
items at MIS and the Woodward Dream Cruise north of Detroit, both of
which take place this weekend.
"NASCAR is a part of Chevy's heritage and bringing the '57 Chevy back to
the track - in spirit - is a unique way to celebrate 50 years of this
legendary car," said Jeff Chew, marketing manager for Chevy Racing.
"With a history of successful NASCAR competition, the '57 Chevy is no
stranger to racing so it simply made sense to commemorate it in this
way. And with the classic car's design cues combined with the aggressive
form of the Monte Carlo SS, heritage and performance - both key
characteristics of the Chevrolet brand - are highlighted."
The paint scheme, unveiled at MIS by Team Chevy driver Jimmie Johnson in
June, will also appear on the cars of Ward Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Casey Mears, Paul Menard, Tony Raines, Martin
Truex, Jr., Scott Wimmer and J.J. Yeley. The design features the
trademark '57 Chevy grill and tailfins, which each race car will wear,
and several will also sport white roofs mimicking the signature white
hardtops often found on '57 Chevys. The No. 18 Monte Carlo SS of J.J.
Yeley will add an extra touch of nostalgia with a vintage Interstate
Twelve restored 1957 Chevrolets will accompany Chevy drivers running the
special paint schemes during their driver introduction laps prior to
Sunday's event. The race car drivers will ride in a new Chevrolet
Silverado led by a '57 Chevy, each driven by a member of the Woodward
Tri-Five Cruisers, a club dedicated to the restoration, preservation and
enjoyment of '55, '56 and '57 classic Chevrolets. Created in August
2002, the club takes its name from Detroit's famed Woodward Avenue, a
cruising location over many decades.
Nine driver merchandise trailers at MIS will offer '57 Chevy-related
memorabilia throughout the weekend. A special Dream Cruise trailer will
sell die-casts and other items at Woodward and 13 Mile Road (in the
middle of the Dream Cruise) from Wednesday through Saturday and will
move to MIS on Sunday. On Saturday, free collector's posters will be
given to those people to buy '57 Chevy merchandise from these trailers,
"We are pleased to partner with NASCAR, Chevrolet, the drivers, teams
and sponsors to commemorate this impressive automotive milestone in
Detroit's backyard," said Mark Dyer, president and CEO of Motorsports
Authentics. "The '57 Chevy is truly an American icon with a rich history
in both motorsports and NASCAR specifically and through our die-cast and
other memorabilia, NASCAR's 75 million fans will be able celebrate this
event by making the '57 Chevy merchandise a part of their ever-growing
For additional information on die-cast collectibles, apparel and novelty
items from Motorsports Authentics commemorating the celebration of the
50th anniversary of the '57 Chevy, please visit www.goracing.com.