Watch Colin Powell and Joe Biden drag race their Corvettes during the 2016 presidential campaign

Remembrances poured in for former Joint Chiefs chairman and Secretary of State Colin Powell after his death Monday morning, including from President Biden. The president called Powell "a good man" and a "a patriot of unmatched honor and dignity" who "will be remembered as one of our great Americans." But "above all," Biden said, "Colin was my friend. Easy to share a laugh with. A trusted confidant in good and hard times. He could drive his Corvette Stingray like nobody's business — something I learned firsthand on the race track when I was vice president."
Jay Leno convinced the Secret Service to let Biden drive his 1967 Corvette Stingray in 2016, when Biden was still vice president, for his show Leno's Garage. In the show, Biden — who admitted he likes "speed" — was overtaken by a 2015 Corvette. "I wonder who that cowboy is?" Biden asked. "Where were you?" Powell ribbed Biden when he pulled up beside him. "I kept looking in the mirror and I didn't see you." Before they raced each other, Powell added, "Try to keep up as best you can, Mr. Vice President."
The Secret Service was already on edge because Biden was speeding around the facility, Leno told NBC's Today, recalling the moment. And then "Colin Powell pulls up in his Corvette, and they really start trash-talking each other, and they both peel out, and the Secret Service was, um, well, upset with me."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Most of the show was about Biden and his car, a wedding gift from his father. You can watch the part up to Powell's arrival below.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets