April 27, 2007 - April 30, 2007

Event Results:

CEO Wins Driving Challenge by .005 Seconds

Mark Henderson, CEO of Jack B. Henderson Construction in Albuquerque, NM won the inaugural CEO Driving Challenge in Danville, VA on April 30 by the narrowest of margins.  After a full day of driving at the Virginia International Raceway track, Mark and Andy Boone, CEO of NAABTech of Dallas, TX, were tied in points earned over three races staged during the day.   To break the tie the fastest lap during the final 15-lap competition was used, and Mark’s fastest lap time of 49.403 beat Andy’s best lap of 49.408 by a mere .005 second!

The CEO Driving Challenge was a true performance racing experience for the CEOs from all across the USA that took part.   The program included hot passes to the Rolex Grand Am race and a Daytona Prototype race, introduction to the TRG race-support team, and time to get to know the professional drivers of the JLowe Racing Team, who had a car entered in the GT race.  

On the Monday following the weekend’s racing activity, CEO Challenges rented the 3.2-mile VIR track for the exclusive use of the CEO Driving participants.   The day included classroom instruction on performance driving, plus dozens of laps in Skip Barber Formula race cars, reaching speeds of up to 110 miles per hour on the straight-aways!   Participants were also taken for hot laps in the JLowe Porsche GT3 race car, and enjoyed the incredible experience of being inside a race car driven at maximum speed by professional drivers Jim Lowe and Jim Pace.

The actual CEO Driving competition took part on the VIR Kart track, and included three races staged throughout the day.   The day’s racing was very close, and came down to a see-saw battle between Mark Henderson and Andy Boone.   As a result of his win, Mark will have his company’s logo on the JLowe Racing car for the remainder of the season!

Although driving was the focus for the participants, the best part for the competing CEOs ended up being the friendships that were formed as a result of being immersed into a true racing environment with fellow business leaders who have a strong interest in performance driving.  

As Mark Henderson put it, “This experience was all about enjoying life’s journey and taking some time out to have fun.   Sometimes we get so focused on business we forget to stop and enjoy ourselves.   This weekend was all about fun and new friendships.”

Perhaps Tim Wentworth, CEO of Accredo Health Group, put it best when he said, “Some days it sucks to be a CEO.   This was not one of those days!”

VIR 400 – APRIL, 2007

Top Three CEOs – Best Lap Times

1. Mark Henderson, Jack B. Henderson Construction – 49.403
2. Andy Boone, NAABTech – 49.408
3. Tim Wentworth, Accredo Health Group – 49.671

(Note: For reference, professional race car driver Jim Lowe’s best lap time was 49.900!)