Hellmann's puts fan on Kahne's Nationwide ride

Kasey Kahne's No. 9 Dodge will carry more than one of NASCAR's most popular drivers and the logo of America's favorite mayonnaise. The hood of Kahne's car will be emblazoned with the picture of NASCAR fan Ron Bernheim.

Millions of fans watching the Nationwide Series O'Reilly 300 on ESPN2 (2:30 p.m. ET Saturday) will see the smiling Southern Californian, who isn't quite sure what to expect at his first NASCAR race or in being the face on a 180 mph billboard.

Fast facts

What	O'Reilly 300
When	Green, 3:16 p.m. ET Saturday
TV	ESPN2, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio	PRN (Sirius Ch. 28), 3 p.m. ET

• Track Page | Tickets | Travel

"I'm just glad I'm not wanted by the FBI," Berheim commented.

Berheim, 67, will be feted at track by Hellmann's as winner of its "Get Your Face in the Race" promotion. Bernheim, who along with 355,000 others entered the sweepstakes online, will travel first class to Texas Motor Speedway with his wife, son and his son's girlfriend -- the biggest NASCAR fan of the group and not surprisingly more than excited to meet Kasey Kahne.

"A few NASCAR fans back in the office can't believe we're about to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience," Bernheim said, who lives in Chatsworth, Calif.

Every NASCAR fan has his or her story of first being introduced to the sport. Bernheim, who is in the furniture business, often travels to High Point, N.C., a.k.a. "furniture mecca." When the area hotels are sold out, he stays with a local family.

It's safe to conclude those he bunks with are more than slightly into NASCAR, the kind of folks who teach their kids to count via the time-tested "1, 2, Earnhardt, 4" method. It was hard for Bernheim not to wind up sharing their enthusiasm for a sport he initially knew nothing about.

Back home in the suburb of Los Angeles, Bernheim began watching NASCAR on TV. Now he's on Kahne's Dodge.

Bernheim is giddy about the exposure from his coming day of fame. He's personally told more than 100 people about starring on a NASCAR paint scheme.

"I really appreciate what Hellmann's has done, and I know we'll never forget this weekend," Bernheim said.

Let's just hope if Kasey Kahne wins the O'Reilly 300, he and the Evernham boys don't start throwing around mayonnaise in Victory Lane.