The worlds of NASCAR and Formula One collided recently at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, courtesy of Valvoline.
The longtime motorsports partner brought together Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon and Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Ambassador and Head of F1 Academy.
The two drivers from different backgrounds climbed into a Gen 6 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS and completed some laps around the part oval-part road course after Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson delivered a dominant win.
Gordon was first. He drove the two-seater around the Roval while explaining to Hawkins that she needed to stay in second gear while going through the chicane and that the back end of the car would hop through the Turn 7 hairpin.
Once the ride-along was complete, Hawkins took over the Cup Series car. She completed laps on her own while becoming the latest British woman to drive a Cup car.
Of course, Hawkins didn't simply complete laps and head back to pit road. She also channeled her inner NASCAR driver by doing celebratory burnouts in the Valvoline-branded Chevrolet SS.
"Getting the opportunity to drive a NASCAR race car was incredible from start to finish," Hawkins said in a statement. "The car itself was so different from anything I've driven before -- it's heavy and has so much power.
"I spent some time in the Hendrick Motorsports simulator and got some passenger laps with Jeff which really helped me prepare beforehand. The experience was a real career highlight and the memories from the day will stay with me for a long time.
"Thank you to Valvoline Global for continuing to celebrate women in motorsport and creating moments like this to demonstrate to young girls everywhere that racing -- in any category -- is for them too."
This trip to the Charlotte Roval was only the latest opportunity for Hawkins to complete laps in a new vehicle. She also became the first woman driver to test the newest generation of F1 car, the AMR22.
This event took place ahead of International Women's Day, as well as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team took over the Riyadh Boulevard entertainment center and had Hawkins complete laps while young girls watched. The purpose was to inspire them to take up motorsports, something the F1 team further pursued by launching a karting initiative for women and girls in the Kingdom and beyond.
"It was my first time driving the AMR22 in Saudi Arabia and at night," Hawkins said after the demo. "It is another special moment I will remember for a long time. I am delighted to be working with our title partner Aramco on their various projects to inspire women and girls to take up motorsport.
"Since I drove the F1 car in Hungary last year, I have been contacted by lots of women and girls around the world asking how they can get involved. Ahead of IWD, it is vital to be seen and hopefully, that will encourage more females to get involved."