Edward Van Halen's back... alive & kickin' !...

When Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced that rock superstar Eddie Van Halen would serve as an Honorary Race Official for the 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at PIR, every Van Halen demanded more info. As an Honorary Race Official, Van Halen was part of pre-race activities and joined Sperber on the pre-race stage greeting drivers as they are introduced prior to the start of the race.

In addition to his duties as an Honorary Race Official, Edward Van Halen helped to unveil a limited edition Fender Stratocaster Guitar as well as a limited edition EVH® brand FrankensteinTM replica guitar at PIR on Friday, April 20. The Fender guitar, with its unique designs, will be presented to the winner of the race. The one-of-a-kind Fender Stratocaster Guitar was built by Chris Fleming, Senior Master Builder, in Fender's Custom Shop.

In Sperber's words: "I'm personally delighted that Eddie Van Halen has accepted our invitation to join us as our Honorary Race Official for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500TM," said Sperber. "There is no one who has had the kind of impact on music that he and his band - Van Halen - have had. I know it will be a thrill for the drivers and fans to have Eddie at Phoenix International Raceway for the NASCAR weekend".

After the event, Fender posted a report on their website:

"It was a weekend for checkered flags and striped guitars.

In one of his first public appearances since a highly publicized March 2007 rehab stint, rock guitar legend and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Van Halen attended the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500 race at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) in Arizona over the weekend of April 20-21, where he served as an honorary race official and unveiled two new guitars. At a press conference that Friday, Van Halen—looking tanned, happy and healthy—unveiled the EVH Frankenstein™ guitar replica, a Fender-built limited edition recreation of the unusually striped DIY instrument he made famous during Van Halen the band’s meteoric rise to rock superstardom in the late 1970s and ’80s. The other guitar was a custom Fender Stratocaster® that would be presented to the winner of the NASCAR race that Saturday.

As an honorary race official, Van Halen helped officially greet and introduce the more than 40 drivers in Saturday’s race. Further, the famous guitarist suited up for a “hot lap” on Friday, taking a speedy spin around the track at PIR with NASCAR driver Kurt Busch.

“I am honored on behalf of EVH brand guitars, amps, and musical products to be invited to such an exciting and fun event,” Van Halen said. “I feel privileged to be working with such amazing organizations like Phoenix International Raceway, their NASCAR event, and Fender.”

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan Sperber said he was “personally delighted that Eddie Van Halen accepted our invitation to join us as our honorary race official for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. I know it will be a thrill for the drivers and fans to have Eddie at Phoenix International Raceway for the NASCAR weekend,” Sperber added.

Fender President Matt Janopaul presented NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon with the custom Stratocaster after Gordon won the race from the pole, delighting fans and ending a 21-race streak of non-pole winners at PIR. Another custom Stratocaster was presented to 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup winner Jimmie Johnson."

Some more pictures of the event: