NASCAR and the Petersen Automotive Museum have announced that in celebration of 60 years of NASCAR racing, they will unveil a retrospective on the history of the fabled sport. On Friday, Feb. 15, the Petersen Automotive Museum will open its doors to a new “NASCAR: 60 Years” exhibit, featuring a unique collection of race cars spanning NASCAR’s history. The museum will also host a Daytona 500 viewing party on Sunday, Feb. 17, complete with a block-party style Fan Fest, featuring NASCAR racing simulators, food & beverage stations, a jumbo television screen, music, the NASCAR Street Tour, interactive displays and more. The eastbound lanes of Wilshire Blvd in front of the museum (between S. Fairfax Ave and S. Orange Grove Ave.) will be closed to host the event. Starting on Feb. 15, the museum will showcase unique race cars that all have a place in NASCAR history. Among the collection are: – 1940 Mercury driven by Sam Packard – 1964 Mercury Marauder driven by Darel Dieranger – 1972 Ford Torino driven by Bobby Unser – 1974 Dodge Charger driven by Richard Petty – 1989 Pontiac driven by Rusty Wallace – 2002 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Also on display will be this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy, as well as a series championship trophy from 2003. The vehicles and trophies will be on display until Aug. 31. NASCAR and the Petersen Automotive Museum will also host a screening of “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” on Wednesday, Feb. 20, featuring a “meet and greet” with the 2008 Daytona 500 winner. Tickets to the showing are free and will be given away at the Fan Fest and fans can also enter to win tickets on myfoxla.com through Feb. 15. More info at petersen.org.(2-10-2008)
