In partnership with Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, making his FOX NASCAR analyst debut at Daytona Speedweeks, will host an intimate gathering at the Halifax River Yacht Club in Daytona Beach, Fla., to celebrate the start of Gordon’s FOX NASCAR broadcast career, the commencement of FOX NASCAR’s 16th season, the DAYTONA 500 and the release of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016.

NASCAR drivers, Hollywood celebrities and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016 models fete “The Great American Race” at the private party featured in primetime on JEFF GORDON’S DAYTONA 500 KICKOFF CELEBRATION, airing Saturday, Feb. 20 (9:00 PM ET) on FOX broadcast network.

"The Daytona 500 is such a huge event, it deserves a great party to kick the season off,” Gordon said. “Thanks to FOX and Sports Illustrated, we will have the most exclusive and entertaining party the sport has ever seen. I’m honored to be hosting the event."

The hour-long special, also offering in-depth features on the newly renovated Daytona Rising and 2016 NASCAR season, is hosted by Gordon and FOX Sports’ Molly McGrath with reporting and driver/celebrity interviews by FOX NASCAR reporter Jamie Little. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016 models Erin Heatherton and Hannah Ferguson are scheduled to attend the event, which features celebrity chef Tim Love and celebrity mixologist Justin Noel serving the 200 guests.

In the week leading into the biggest race of the year, FOX Sports partners with Sports Illustrated in support of the DAYTONA 500 (Sunday, Feb. 21 on FOX at 1:00 PM ET) and the launch of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016. Coverage of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Launch Week, beginning with Swim City, a two-day fan festival in New York City, and concluding with Swim Beach, a two-day fan festival on Miami Beach, are featured on FOX Sports’ digital and social platforms, as well as within JEFF GORDON’S DAYTONA 500 KICKOFF CELEBRATION primetime special.

Marked by the network’s 16th consecutive season covering the NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES, FOX NASCAR’s presentation of Daytona Speedweeks features approximately 100 hours of multi-platform programming, including the SPRINT UNLIMITED, CAM-AM DUEL AT DAYTONA, and NASCAR XFINITY SERIES and NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES season openers. FOX NASCAR returns in 2016 armed with seven championships’ worth of analysis and insight from Hall of Famer and three-time champ Darrell Waltrip alongside Gordon, with veteran play-by-play announcer Mike Joy, covering his 41st DAYTONA 500.

