By Garrett Horton

“I’m a race car driver” won’t get you out of a speeding ticket. Not even if you’re NASCAR superstar Danica Patrick, who was nailed for speeding in her Mercedes ML 63 AMG in Scottsdale. The need for speed doesn’t stop after the race. Many NASCAR drivers stock some of the world’s most desired cars in their personal garages.

Danica Patrick – Lamborghini Gallardo

Costing a cool $200,000, Patrick’s other road toy packs 5.2 liter V10 mid-engine with 562 horsepower, 398 pounds of torque and an all-wheel drivetrain to hug the track around corners. It’s the sort of car that gets its own episode on “Top Gear,” but Danica doesn’t find it very practical.

She says the car is difficult to drive in regards to potholes and parking around her native Scottsdale. “I just needed something more practical,” Patrick said. Danica now drives a more practical Beamer, but whether she’s driving her BMW in Phoenix, AZ, or road tripping to California, she’ll keep a closer eye for police.

Photo by Axion23 via Flickr

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

This third-generation racer has a special connection to the ’67 Chevy. He built one with his dad, the late Earnhardt Sr., when Jr. was just a kid back in 1967. The classic Camaro is more than just a nostalgia car, though. It rocks a 302 cubic inch V8 with nearly 300 horses made from pure American muscle. Shortly after Sr.’s tragic death, Chevrolet released a limited edition “Intimidator” SS Camaro which Jr. also owns.

Photo of ’67 Chevy Camaro Custom 427 V8 by German Medeot via Flickr

Jimmie Johnson – 1949 Chevrolet Stepside Pickup

Some cars have speed, some have class, Jimmie Johnson found one with both. His ’49 Chevy pickup looks like it could grace a Hitchcock film and suits the American-born racer well. But it’s not just about outside appearance here. That pickup still hides a powerful Corvette engine under the hood.

Carl Edwards – 2008 Shelby GT500KR

NBC failed at rebooting the once-popular series “Knight Rider” in 2008, but the failed show did give something positive to the world: a special edition GT500 Mustang. The limited edition featured a 540 horsepower V-8 engine that was leaps and bounds above a normal Mustang GT. The “Knight Rider” remake may be long gone, but this car certainly lives on in Edwards’ garage.

Photo by cmonville via Flickr

Tony Stewart – Lamborghini Murcielago

​Danica isn’t the only driver with a Lambo in the garage. Back when he was driving for Home Depot, Tony Stewart bought a matching orange Murci to drive between races. Kanye West raps about the Murcielago for a reason. Inside is a ridiculous 6.5 liter V12 powering 640 horsepower through the wheels, making it an absolute beast on the road. Stewart left the orange racing suit for Bass Pro Shops, but the orange Murci is here to stay.

Photo by INkubusse via Wikimedia Commons

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Author: Garrett Horton

Garrett is a dad and tech blogger who loves to work on cars whenever he has the chance.