Pepsi Max & Jeff Gordon Present: Test Drive facts for kids

Pepsi Max & Jeff Gordon Present: Test Drive is a super popular short film from 2013. It stars famous NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The film was made by Gifted Youth, a part of Funny or Die. It was directed by Peter Atencio. This video was a big part of an advertising campaign for Pepsi Max.

It was released on Pepsi's YouTube channel on March 12, 2013. The video quickly became a huge hit, getting over 45 million views by March 2016. A shorter version of the film was even shown as a TV commercial during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Pepsi Max driver and spokesperson Jeff Gordon (left) and director Peter Atencio (right)

What Happens in the Test Drive Video?

In the video, Jeff Gordon dresses up as an older man. He wears special make-up, a fake mustache, and a goatee. He goes to a car dealership in Concord, North Carolina. There, he introduces himself as "Mike" to a salesman named Steve.

The salesman notices "Mike" looking at a Camaro. He asks if "Mike" wants to buy it. Gordon pretends to be nervous. He says the car is "way too much" for him and he might not be able to handle it. The salesman offers him a test drive. Gordon agrees.

As they start driving, Gordon acts a bit scared. He hits the brakes a few times. The salesman tells him the car has a lot of power. He says to just get a feel for it. Then, Gordon suddenly speeds off! He does burnouts and drives super fast through the parking lot.

The salesman is totally shocked and starts yelling at Gordon to slow down. Gordon does one last burnout. Then he spins the car around and parks it perfectly back in its spot. The salesman gets out, very angry. He threatens to call the police.

Gordon tries to calm him down. He points out all the hidden cameras recording them. Then, he pulls off his fake mustache. The salesman is stunned to see it's actually Jeff Gordon! The video ends with Gordon saying sorry. The salesman then asks if he wants to do it again. Gordon replies, "Yeah, let's do it again!"

How the Video Was Filmed

The video was filmed over two days. It took place at Troutman Motors, a car dealership in Concord, North Carolina. This happened during the NASCAR off-season before 2013.

A stunt driver named Brad Noffsinger did all the cool driving tricks. He usually drives for the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Gordon wore a special "glasses cam" while filming. This camera recorded everything he saw, making it fun for viewers. A Pepsi Max can was also used as a "can cam." This gave cool shots from inside the car during the test drive. It also helped promote the Pepsi Max drink.

The Sequel: Another Prank!

In February 2014, a second video was made. This time, Jeff Gordon pretended to be a taxi driver and an ex-convict. He gave a ride to Travis Okulski, who had doubted the first prank was real. Gordon then led Okulski on a fake police car chase.

This second prank took eight months to plan! Gordon, Okulski, and Pepsi Max all say the prank was real. The video was released on Pepsi's YouTube channel on February 27, 2014. The sequel also got very popular, with over 21 million views by March 2016.

The original and sequel videos have since been removed from Pepsi's YouTube channel. However, you can still find copies uploaded by other users. You can also watch them on director Peter Atencio's online portfolio on Vimeo.