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This Video of a Prank by a NASCAR Driver Got 7 Million Views in Less Than Two Days — See Why

Mar. 14, 2013 12:00pm Liz Klimas

A sweater vest-wearing car salesman taking out a potential customer for a test drive in a black Chevy Camaro knows the drill for those unaccustomed to being behind the wheel of a sports car. He tells the man “nice and easy and just head on out.” But little did he know, he was about to be taken for the ride of his life as part of Pepsi Max promotion.

“I don’t know if I can handle it,” the customer says checking out the sports car. “I’ve never driven anything like this before.”

Pepsi Max and Jeff Gordon Prank Car Salesman With Wild Ride in Viral Video

Would you trust this guy to take you out on a test drive with a Camaro? He said he currently drives a mini-van. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

“I’ll tell you what, I think a way to make you feel comfortable would be to put you behind the wheel,” the salesman said, seemingly unaware that he was about to be made very uncomfortable himself.

Starting out, the customer seems uneasy with the power of the car. “Just get a feel for it,” the salesman says.

Getting a little punchy with the acceleration at first, the salesman tells the driver the car does have a lot of power and the needs to get a feel for it. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Taking this cue, the driver guns it in the parking lot, does a donut spin and continues on with other terrifying antics that are soon apparently the antics of NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.

The salesman cringes, screams, curses (bleeped out of course) and threatens to call the cops when he’s finally safe in the parking lot after the crazy test drive.

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

Gordon stops the salesman from making good on this threat saying it was all a prank, rips off his mustache and identifies himself.

Posted on YouTube on Tuesday, the video already has more than 7 million views.

Perhaps you’ve already seen the intensely viral video on TheBlaze Blog but why not give it another spin, so to speak?

Parts of the footage was captured by a Pepsi can-cam in the cup holder and a camera in Gordon’s artificial glasses.

Some might not recognize Gordon in the prank and think it’s not him, even though in the video it is revealed as Gordon putting on the costume. Even still, the 41-year-old NASCAR driver is also very open about his involvement on Twitter:

I went 4 a test drive. Car salesman may never be the same. U gotta watch -> PepsiMAX.com/TestDrive. #GordonTestDrive twitter.com/JeffGordonWeb/…

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) March 12, 2013

Glad everyone is enjoying #GordonTestDrive as much as I did doing it. Props to @pepsimax. Thx 2 all 4 watching. PepsiMAX.com/TestDrive

— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) March 13, 2013

We can’t officially confirm whether or not the car salesman was in on the prank and acting or was genuinely surprised. The Hickory Record reported the viral video was filmed in Concord, North Carolina, at the Troutman Motors and Philip Morris in February. The footage has a written disclaimer that notes it was filmed on a closed track, which might indicate the salesman was really aware of what was going on. The Hickory Record also reported that the stunt work in the video was done by Brad Noffsinger with Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Given what you’ve seen of the footage and what you know about the filming of it (closed course and stunt driver for parts), let us know what you think about the salesman involved by taking our poll:

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Comments (104)

marine43
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:22pm
Here you go . Great , great movie! http://tinyurl.com/bpwcfsc

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- USAMama
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:25am
  I don’t know, if they planned it ahead of time they could have closed the roads without the salesman knowing. And the stunt driver may have been in the white car that he almost nailed by the fence, not necessarily in Jeff’s car. The salesman’s reaction sure seemed genuine to me!
  
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- spikebu
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:24am
  What are the odds the salesman knew who Jeff Gorden was? It’s too risky. This is the first time I’ve heard of the guy. If I were an unwitting salesman, I’d have put it in neutral, or just reached over and turned it off. The guy was an actor.
  
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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:10am
  If that was not an actor salesman, then they made the whole commercial at his expense. His expense to see his legitimately scared out of his mind. His reaction was normal for anyone thinking some nut job is on a death ride. He doesn’t know if this crazy driver is going to get them killed. The whole car getting cut off scene and there just happened to be a camera outside at the moment it happened makes me suspect that it was all planned and timed making it not so spontaneous.
  
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- SUNTZU
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:31am
  Fact or Fake
  Who cares it’s FUNNY.
  Wont get me to give up my COKE.
  
  Report this comment
- RedHarley
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:20pm
  It IS funny to watch the first time, but there is just NO WAY that Pepsi and Jeff Gordon are going to open themselves up to a BIG lawsuit if the guy had gotten ill or injured from this. The guys reactions just weren’t normal, especially at the end.
  Funny, but fake.
  
  Report this comment
flatbroke
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:18pm
It was little fake at the end, when jeff says ” i am Jeff Gordon” and the guy just relaxes and says ” wannado it again.” but very different ,refreshing from all the bad/depressing/weird news on this site. very funny.

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marine43
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:10pm
Total ripoff of the movie “used cars” But funny!

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- AgentP
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 7:10am
  Mickey “does she run?”
  Luke “she runs like a dream.”
  Mickey “for $2750 old man, she better run like a wet dream”…
  
  Mickey “you like chicken, old man? I love chicken”
  
  Report this comment
pavnvet
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:54pm
I was in the auto business for 35 years, I was a General Manager and also for 10 years consulted to Ford and GM dealerships. I trained many salespeople (and managers) over that period of time.

The first thing is you never let the customer drive off the lot. First the salesperson is supposed to get a copy of the drivers license. So, if he didn’t and didn’t recognize the name, that is strike one. He also should have told the manager he was going on a test drive. The salesperson is then supposed to be the person driving off the lot.and later change seats. Lastly, since the advent of cell phones, I always recommend you have it with you. Even with those preliminaries, it doesn’t mean the salesperson is protected from nut cases.

I had a saleslady that was driven around town for 5 hours. When she didn’t return in a half hour we notified the police. She was okay and we learned the male driver was recently in a psychiatric hospital. On a personal note, in the early 80′s we were a Delorean dealership. I took the customer out in the car (after doing all the things I said above) and turned the vehicle over to him. The man was driving too fast and I told him to slow down. He was entering the on ramp of a highway and spun the car out, taking out about a half dozen reflector poles. I reached over, threw the vehicle into neutral and grabbed the keys and told him to get out. I left him there for a 2 mile walk back to the dealership. It isn’t funny if it is you.

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- makeshiftgods
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:17pm
  Yes it is, you’re just an angry man who wouldn’t even give a potential customer a ride back to a dealership. Bet you felt like you taught them a lesson right? Just a word of advice from a 20 year old nobody, take advantage of those opportunities to grow as a person instead of fulfilling some vain self gratification by putting someone in a bad situation.
  
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- DDD
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:22pm
  I wouldn’t blame the dealership – they say right out that the dealership was in on it and probably told the salesman that the “driver” checked out and then handed him the keys to give Gordon. I’ve always driven cars I’ve taken for test drives off the lot.
  
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- Ralloh
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 5:20pm
  MAKESHIFTGODS, huh? Who was putting who in a bad situation? The idiot driver spun the car out on an on ramp. He could have easily killed someone, yet you’re putting the poster down? Wow, kind of says something about your generation. Now go watch another Fail video and howl with laughter at people really getting hurt.
  
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- xrayeyes
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 5:31pm
  I live in the area…this is a used car lot, not a franchised dealer.
  
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- Toltepeceno
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 5:37pm
  I am retired, have test driven a lot of cars in my life and have NEVER been asked for my license. I was flipped the keys of a nissan pathfinder and told to keep it overnight, of course I had to leave my vehicle there. I did have a Chevy dealership in 95 say I could only drive a pickup if I bought it. I went right down, test drove a new design 96 ford f150 and bought it. Great pickup, never regretted it.
  
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- walex
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 6:50pm
  Wow, not sure what dealership you worked at but I have bought 6 cars from dealerships, never did they request any of the above or did a sales person “drive it off the lot” for me. Clearly you are a person with little or no sense of humor. Loosen up, this was hysterical….
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 8:16pm
  I love going to car dealerships.
  
  It’s almost as much fun as getting a root canal.
  
  Report this comment
- pavnvet
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:02pm
  @ makeshiftgods – I’ll excuse your comment as someday may someday have some wisdom. Right now you are showing your age. Obviously you don’t have respect for anyone that has a different point of view.
  
  I also believe this was staged. For a NASCAR driver to pull such a stunt is really unprofessional. Also, the stunts he pulled had to be pre-planned. If it wasn’t and I was the dealer, I would be one pi$$ed off person at someone that would subject my salesperson and my property to such a stunt.
  
  To the other posters that said they were either thrown the keys or were never asked for their license. Every year there are hundreds, of cars stolen from dealerships because salespeople do not follow established policies. There have also been several salespeople murdered by people just test driving the car. Most often this happens in more rural areas as the people are more trusting. Let me ask you, would you let someone jump in your personal car and never ask them to show you who they were and that they were legal to drive your car? As for the salesperson driving off the lot it is just to demonstrate the features of the vehicle. The most successful salespeople follow these procedures. BTW, I authored training manuals and policies that were adopted by many Ford and GM dealerships.. I am retired now.
  
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- Kaoscontrol
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:41pm
  Getting a stunt/production like this insured would be impossible… that alone should clue you in that Yes! it’s FAKE! (as is most ‘reality’ TV), but it’s really fun and entertaining….chill out, PAVEVET and enjoy the ride!
  
  Report this comment
- pavnvet
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:46am
  Okay, last comment. I am not angry at the stunt, I was attempting to point out the dangers and challenges facing auto dealerships and salespeople with some real life examples. I also worry about some that may want to be copycats. I talked to several friends that are still working in the business and they had mixed reactions. Most agreed that it was staged. I also heard several horror stories where the salesperson was injured in an accident caused by a customer and of vehicles stolen, some at gun point while out on a test drive. That is what concerns me, not the stunt. Some people think it is fun watching people get hurt for acting or doing something stupid. I prefer to laugh when, I am laughing with someone, not at someone.
  
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- tnman65
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:29am
  I test drove several cars last year before buying my wife a Mini Cooper, I never gave them my license and they never rode with me. I’m assuming they thought I would come back for my almost new F150.
  
  Report this comment
- melmatmic
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:42am
  I have had my license copied but usually drive the car off the lot and either alone or me and my wife. Only one time has the salesman gone with me.
  
  Report this comment
- GiveUsJustice
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:47pm
  ” The salesperson is then supposed to be the person driving off the lot.and later change seats.”
  
  So basically what you are saying is, that you are incredibly lucky none of “your” cars never got stole? Your method seems to be the worst I’ve ever heard of. Let the salesman get out of the car to switch? That would be a crooks dream.
  
  And as for a license, try actually using your brain outside the box and realize millions of illegals are here with “licenses” that are actually voting. What are you going to do? Track him down? Hahaha.
  
  I’m glad our dealers where I live are NOTHING like you. I bet your employees gave you gifts often from your upbeat sense of humor and stellar personality.
  
  Report this comment
- pavnvet
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:55pm
  You know I didn’t attack anyone here.
  
  You said the salesperson gets out of the car and it can be stolen. Yes that can happen if the salesperson doesn’t take the keys. Duh. Because we had a copy license, from a customer back in the early 90′s we were instrumental in the capture of a husband and wife team who stole over 40 vehicles, counterfeited titles and sold the cars to other dealers in different states,
  
  All of you who bought vehicles without the salesperson caring about the vehicle being stolen, no one, NO ONE answered the question if you would let a stranger take your vehicle without knowing who they were and if they were legal to drive it and your vehicle. I didn’t think anyone could honestly answer that
  
  Use my brain out of the box? Why don’t you just use your brain and think about what you said regarding licenses and illegals. That is just ridiculous. If you are curious about how successful I was. I retired at 57. so obviously I did something right. Ford was paying me $5500 a week in the 90′s to consult to their stores.. So, you see I really don’t care how you bought your cars or if you dealt with a good ole boy, or a schmuck. The whole point of the post was that I don’t laugh at people who are being humiliated, frightened or injured. If you do, fine. If you think you are smarter than me, fine.
  
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- pavnvet
  Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:01pm
  By the way the whole thing was faked:
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/14/jeff-gordon-prank-video-pepsi-max-test-drive_n_2876259.html?ir=Sports
  
  Report this comment
Begbie
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:12pm
Fake. There’s no way the can would have stayed in the cup holder, especially when he went up the ramp. Although, I believe most of it was real. Very Funny. Would have been funnier with Smoke driving, telling the salesman, “shut up you fat f–k!! Take the PAIN!”

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dont-care-anymore
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:59pm
that was one looooooong extension cord that had on that obamabile

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salvawhoray
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:47pm
Pills? What you need pills for old man?

“Used Cars”

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bankerpapaw
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:33pm
They probably had to clean out the passenger seat.

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ECOMCON
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:32pm
This reminds me when I turned 16. I grew up with an overprotective single mom. I had learned how to drive when I was 12, but she didn’t know it. So when I turned 16 she stuck me into one of those lame driving schools. So the first day of lessons I was with the instructor and another kid student in the back seat. I pulled the same kinda stuff as the video, saying I had never driven before and I was nervous. The instructor said all the usual nonsense and I faked not knowing how to shift into drive and release the parking park etc. Then I took the poor sucker on the ride of his life. Donuts in the school parking lot, high speed acceleration and corners etc. The guy was white as a sheet and so was the geeky kid in the back. Ahhh.. the video brought back memories.

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CharlestonJohn
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:38pm
That was fake

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pennsy.357
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:10pm
The video was shot last month at Troutman Motors in Concord, and also on the Philip Morris compound in the same town. Former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Noffsinger, now an instructor with the Richard Petty Driving Experience, performed all the high-performance stunt driving for the video. Did anyone else noticed the car only made left turns?

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banjarmon
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:03pm
That car need to be detailed to get the brown out of the front passenger seat!!

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caleejr
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:03pm
no matter what – I laughed – and it made other’s laugh. It was a good promo for Pepsi and Chevrolet (regardless your loyalty or non loyalty to those companies) – and a nod to NASCAR.

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Depat
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:53pm
Saw this on Fox News this morning and according to them Gordon wasn’t really driving the car and the “salesman”was an actor. So, big deal? I think not.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:03pm
  DEPAT, Caught it the same as you this morning. No big deal at all.
  
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- Toltepeceno
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 5:40pm
  A real salesman would have ruined it when he said “Jeff Who”? Not to mention he probably WOULD sue them.
  
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- lynda1276
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 6:44pm
  kill joy
  
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NOV15
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:53pm
Seems like a lot of liability for Pepsi if that salesman didn’t sign off on it. I cant imagine they would take the chance.

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pgalbreath
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:51pm
Totally Fake!

The Camaro does not have a center cup holder attached to the vent. That was added for this commercial.

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/index/cars/2013-camaro-coupe/photos-and-videos/interior/_jcr_content/mm_gal_c2/thumbnailArea/mm_gal_item_c2_18.img_resize.img_stage._2.jpg

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Disgusted_150
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:50pm
Awesome. I almost fell over laughing…I don’t care if it was fake or not. The idea was funny enough…Pepsi still doesn’t taste right though, personal preference.

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Rowgue
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:49pm
Completely fake.

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hi
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:48pm
Wait. Are you not supposed to drive like that?

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grimjack3791
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:45pm
I don’t think he was in on it. The rest of the dealership was in on it (re: someone had to check Gordon’s driver’s license before the test drive, and the “closed course” issue could have been explained with some BS if the salesman happened to ask), but saleman was owned big time. Absolutely hilarious.

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- notsurewhatshappeninghere
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:29pm
  Exactly my reaction, Grim. Especially once they’re back, and he reveals himself, the entire employee body of the dealership were laughing and applauding. If you really watch the salesman’s reactions, either he’s a master actor, or he was shiiting in his pants just hoping not to die. Should be, but f’ing HILLARIOUS!!! I think this was a brilliant hoax on ONE DUDE – the salesman, and at the same time got Pepsi and Chevy some seriously huge advertising. Very smart move indeed.
  
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Rooskibar03
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:30pm
Fake. I’ve been selling cars for 12 years and never once allowed someone to take a test drive with an open beverage in the cup holder….

Also the person who said the salesman always drives first needs to find a new car lot. I haven’t done that in years, its an old school control method.

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- ltb
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:42pm
  Looked a little staged to me too.
  
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- dennybug
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:29pm
  @ Rooskibar03, look again the container wasnt open!
  
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- Rooskibar03
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:15pm
  Denny, Good catch. That said the Camero doesn’t have a cup holder there anyway, so clearly it was set up.
  
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- notsurewhatshappeninghere
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:43pm
  Well, yes, it was obviously set up. I don’t think that’s the question. The question is was the salesman in on it. You can pull apart every little aspect, but maybe he really wanted to sell a camaro so he let the drink slip. My main question is why are so many people here so incredibly quick to cut this to pieces. Have we gotten to the point of cynicism that we can’t simply enjoy a funny video? Come on guys, let’s let ourselves have a little fun sometimes.
  
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Zipit
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:23pm
That dude was scoopin his droor’s when that ride was over!

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walnutportconservative
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:21pm
Genuine or not, I was laughing as I imagined what it would be like to actually pull the stunt off myself.
Beware car salesmen… I may loose that conservative thinking for a few miles in life.
I’ll be arriving in my 1990 Volvo 240 DL.

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pickupyurcross
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:21pm
Fake. The salesman always drive it off the lot and then le you take it over once you are off the lot. Especially with a high powered car.

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- Carrie3570
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:54pm
  I don’t know where you get your cars, but I have never had a car salesman drive the car off the lot for me. The only time a car salesman moved the car first was when a car was getting detailed he thought I would like. He went and got it and brought it to the front and then I took it. In fact, I think the last two times I bought cars (trucks actually) the salesman didn’t even go with me to test drive.
  
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- letsbefrank
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:12pm
  Really, EVERY, car I test drove, I drove off the lot. The salesman not once drove the car. Maybe different states different rules?
  
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- RabidPatriot
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 1:55pm
  Maybe it’s just you. I have test driven some very high performance vehicles and I have never had a car salesman drive.
  
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- notsurewhatshappeninghere
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:50pm
  I, as well, have never had a salesman drive a car for a test drive…
  
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- ABVCharlie
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:35pm
  That’s ludicrous. I bought a 2012 Camaro SS literally two weeks ago, and the Salesman didn’t even come with us on the test drive! It seems a lot of people assume every dealership has the same policies… not true.
  
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Winedude
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:19pm
Not a big NASCAR fan but I did enjoy this clip. I thought it was pretty funny at the end when Gordon asked about doing it again…

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- wydopnthrtl
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:11pm
  Just like our Fed Gov… all theatrics and the faces scene are not the people pulling the strings.
  
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