JC and Big Dell Drive Through Austin
Wendell ‘The Big Dell’ Sailor has made the journey to the United States this week to ensure the safe delivery of the Chrysler 300 SRT8 Pedders STP Safety Car ahead of the next stage of the V8 Supercars Championship.
Big Dell arrived in Texas at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, where the Australian V8 Supercars will compete in the first North American Championship race, the Austin 400, next weekend.
Before ‘del-ivering’ the Chrysler, Dell – along with fellow Aussie, V8 Supercar driver James Courtney – toured the famous streets of the southern city in a V8 Supercar convoy starting from the University of Texas and finishing outside the spectacular capital building in downtown Austin.
The cavalcade, led through the streets under police escort, mimicked the formation of the V8 Supercar starting grid, with Dell ‘on pole position’ behind the wheel of the Chrysler 300 SRT8.
Dell was accompanied by the Chicago Bears Running Back, Cedrick Benson, while 2010 V8 Supercar Champion James Courtney followed closely behind with local University of Texas Longhorns star Errick "Ricky" Williams.
“It’s an incredible experience to be here helping celebrate Australia’s rich car racing heritage in a place renowned for their love of motorsport,” said Dell. “When you’re able to bring together the calibre of athletes that we have here today, you know that the future of both Chrysler and the V8 Supercar Championships are onto a winning formula.”
The quartet of sporting greats from across the Pacific posed for photographs outside the capital building, representing the celebration of a new era for V8 Supercars and a welcome home ceremony for the Chrysler 300 SRT8.
"Loving driving the Chrysler Safety Car here in Texas! I may just come home a cowboy!" said the Big Dell.
"It’s really cool that the Aussie V8s are coming to Austin, we had fun driving around the track," said Williams.
Chrysler Australia’s association with V8 Supercars couldn’t be a more perfect partnership with the brand back on home turf at the Austin 400.
“The Austin 400 allows us promote our association with the Australian V8 Supercar Championship on Chrysler’s home ground,” said Mark McCraith, Director of Marketing for Fiat Chrysler Group Australia.
“What better location than Texas to continue to showcase the power of the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the Chrysler 300 SRT8,” he added.
The exclusive display of the Chrysler 300 SRT8, driver ability and motoring excellence will officially welcome Australian V8 Supercars to Austin and celebrate the American heritage of the Chrysler brand (with a splash of Aussie fun along the way).
Chrysler 300SRT8 – Official Supplier of the Pedders STP Safety and Course Cars of the V8 Supercars Championship
The potent and evocative-sounding Chrysler 300 SRT8s will be at each event leading the pack with its new 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, making it one of the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8, punching out a track-worthy 347kW @ 6100rpm and a tidal wave of 631Nm of torque at a low 4150rpm.
