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.
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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.
“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.
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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.
