Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Sunday, March 16, 2025
HomeLifestyleNascar makes surprise appearance at Clemson pro day looking to poach potential...

Nascar makes surprise appearance at Clemson pro day looking to poach potential NFL stars for racing pit crews


THE Clemson football program put on a pretty standard pro day with all 32 NFL teams, but one group of visitors stood out.

While representatives and head coaches from NFL teams watched Clemson’s top players show off their skills, Nascar scouts were also present in the building.

Clemson Tigers player #71 blocking Texas Longhorns player #11 during a football game.

3

Clemson had 32 NFL teams and an interesting extra set of scouts at their pro dayCredit: Getty
Kyle Larson's #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet leading another car during a NASCAR race.

3

Nascar representatives were scouting future pit crew members at ClemsonCredit: Getty

According to Jon Blau of The Post and Courier, Nascar reps were at the event alongside NFL scouts.

The Nascar teams were there looking for future pit crew members.

Many former college athletes end up in Nascar as jack men, fuel men, and tire changers after their football careers end.

Nascar likely isn’t the first choice for the players showing off at their pro days, as they all have NFL aspirations.

However, it is a good career for the many players who don’t fulfill their dreams of making an NFL roster.

Take Blaine Anderson for example. He is a front tire changer for Kyle Larson’s crew.

Larson is one of the most competitive drivers in Nascar, and needs a strong pit crew to support him.

Anderson is a former walk-on football player at Alabama, where he won a national championship.

He was highlighted on a USA broadcast last season to detail his journey from football to Nascar.

“Blaine was a football player at Alabama, actually walked on for coach (Nick) Saban and these shots are from the 2015 national championship game,” the broadcast said.

Ex-Nascar driver Austin Theriault claims ‘this is the honor of my life’ after striking huge victory in political career

“He was a safety and also a special teams player.”

The athletic abilities that Anderson developed at Alabama helped him transition into Nascar, where he has to haul 25-pound tires around a car at lightning speed.

“But he gives credit to Scott Cochran, who he tells me is the most famous strength coach in college football,” the broadcast said.

“He said he’s the one who told me try Nascar after your football career, and he’s still here years later.”

A notable tidbit about the intersection between Clemson and Nascar is one of the programs the school offers.

The school has a special Motorsports Engineering program as a part of their Automotive Engineering major.

Pit crew working on a stock car during a race.

3

Nascar pit crews feature a large amount of former football playersCredit: Getty

That program has lots of crossover with Nascar.

Football fans were shocked to hear of the crossover between Nascar and football and shared their thoughts on social media.

“NASCAR? Wow! Who knew,” one fan said.

“Good for those guys. Hope they enjoy it,” another fan said.

“Surprised so few people know about the college athlete to nascar crew pipeline,” a third fan said.

“I’d imagine being a NASCAR Pit Crew is a little easier on the back/spine… maybe not the knees and probably pays pretty well,” a fourth fan said.

“NASCAR being there is an interesting tidbit,” a fifth fan said.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments