The No. 44 Hot Wheels Pontiac is taking on a brand new challenge. The Cup Series car that Kyle Petty once controlled is heading to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand confirmed the news on social media on Monday, June 9. He revealed that he had previous plans to race a 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in the prestigious motorsports event, but these fell through due to something out of his control.
So, Hildebrand went a different route. He broke out the former Cup Series car for the fan-favorite climb up the Colorado mountain.
I have learned that @JRHildebrand is planning to race this car at Pikes Peak.
Going to need a video of what modifications were done to make it go up the mountain. pic.twitter.com/9CNrTXEhlx
— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) June 9, 2025
"I've got my own car," Hildebrand said in an Instagram post. "So everybody please give a warm welcome to the 1997 through '99 Kyle Petty Hot Wheels road course car to the mountain.
"Now, we have been busting it on this thing to get ready, come out here to one of the most challenging events in all of motorsports, unquestionably, very objectively.
"A thing that it was not meant to do in period, it's definitely not meant to do now. Not been prepped for, but to be frank, this is exactly why I bought this car."
As Hildebrand explained, he is not taking the "stock" No. 44 Pontiac up the mountain. He is actually doing a significant number of modifications to Petty's former car. This includes some work on the engine, which he pulled and sent back east.
Petty controlled the No. 44 Hot Wheels Pontiac for multiple seasons. This specific vehicle in Hildebrand's collection was used at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International, the road courses on the NASCAR schedule at the time.
Petty's best finish at Sonoma Raceway in the Hot Wheels Pontiac was eighth during the 1999 season. His best finish at Watkins Glen International in this entry was sixth in 1998. His Watkins Glen win was in the Mello Yello car.
The No. 44 Hot Wheels Pontiac will now head to an entirely different course. It will line up for a run at 9,390 feet above sea level. It will then travel 12.42 miles as Hildebrand pushes to reach the finish line at the 14,115-foot summit.