Autoblog

First production 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible auctioned for a cool million

Michael Harley — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:24:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

Barrett-Jackson auctioned off the first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible in Palm Beach this evening, with the open-top two-seater commanding a huge winning bid of $1,000,000 from Rick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports.

While the Geneva Motor Show C7 prototype is pictured above (it also was shown at Barrett-Jackson), Hendrick won rights to the first retail production model (VIN undetermined at this time), allowing him to choose both color and options before his V8 sports car rolls off the assembly line in the near future. Hopefully, by the time that happens, we will all know more about its soft convertible top, double-bubble tonneau and the mechanism that opens and lowers the fully automatic roof at speeds upwards of 30 mph.

It is worth mentioning that proceeds from the sale of this first C7 droptop will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer institute, one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States that strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. The General Motors Foundation is a longtime supporter of Karmanos, with nearly $6 million in support over the last 15 years.

First production 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible auctioned for a cool million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

Good brakes may be less important in stock car racing than in other forms of motorsport, but on a plane, they're pretty darn important. That's what Rick Hendrick found out - the hard way - last night when his private jet crashed off the runway in Key West, Florida.

Hendrick's Gulfstream G150, registered to Jimmie Johnson (one of Hendrick's star drivers), slid straight off the runway and almost into the water when its brakes apparently failed upon landing. On board together with the NASCAR team owner were his wife Linda and two pilots. Fortunately, CNN reports that no one was seriously injured.

The incident must have been especially traumatic for the Hendricks, who lost seven members of their family - including their son Ricky who drove for and ran the team with his dad - in a 2004 plane crash. However, the Hendricks aren't the only ones to have been affected by plane crashes: Fellow NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has survived two such incidents, while off-road racer Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff were killed in a small plane crash in California a couple of weeks ago.

Click past the jump to watch an Associated Press report on the crash.

Continue reading NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video]

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Ferrari

Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider - Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you playing Speed's Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, this is the perfect chance to start, as it's just about to hit the auction block - Bid away, you could end up winning a prize, such as an Apple iPad. These Ferrari 360s can typically be had for anywhere from $75,000 to $95,000... but this is Mr. Hendrick's personal low-mileage car and it's on the Barrett-Jackson stage, so our guess is that a $100,000+ winning bid is certainly possible.

With that out of the way, let's take a look at this particular machine. Saying that Rick Hendrick owns a couple of cars is like saying the crowd at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction likes to throw back a couple of drinks. As an auction night marches on, the bartenders tip jars fill up faster and prices start to climb. Rick Hendrick is hoping they don't cut anyone off because a few of his cars will be rolling across the stage... including his 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider.

Looking splendid in its traditional red paint, the drop-top Italian sports car shows just 1,936 miles on the odometer. Only 379 convertible paddle-shift cars were built and this one was kept inside when the weather was anything other than sunny. We're guessing it drove it a little more aggressively than he plans to drive his new Chevrolet Volt.

Check out the official auction listing here, and head on over to Speed to watch live streaming coverage of all the festivities.

*Update: Click past the jump to watch the Ferrari go across the block.

Gallery: 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider at Barrett-Jackson 2011

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010

Chris Paukert — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Celebrities

Danica Patrick No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

The "Will she, won't she" debate is over - Danica Patrick is headed for closed-wheel racing in 2010. Patrick will race a partial schedule in next year's National Nationwide series in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, and she will also participate in one ARCA race. As a driver on the No. 7 team, she will be signed through 2011 to the JR Motorsports team that's owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick, Kelley Earnhardt and Tony Eury, Jr. through 2011.

This bit of news is not to say that Danica is eschewing her open-wheel career - she will also continue to race her similarly day-glo green Andretti Autosport IndyCar, also in full GoDaddy.com regalia. The NASCAR events that she will race in will be interlaced with her IndyCar schedule, before, during, and after the open-wheel season.

Danica's first stock car race will be a February 6 ARCA race in Daytona, the day before the Super Bowl. As usual, her primary sponsors will feature Patrick in a slate of new commercials during the big NFL game, and we're willing to bet that they'll have a bit of NASCAR flavor. High-res gallery of her new ride below, official press release after the jump.

Gallery: Danica Patrick NASCAR

[Source: GoDaddy.com]

Continue reading Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010

Officially Official: Danica Patrick joining NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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