Clemson Football Team Experiences Charlotte Motor Speedway

Dec. 29, 2010

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Clemson football team, coaches and staff had the opportunity to experience racing at 160 miles per hour at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday. Most of the Clemson team took a test drive with an experienced NASCAR driver at the track Wednesday morning.

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney, University President Jim Barker and Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips also took three trips around the track in the passenger seat. “I have a new appreciation for what those guys do,” said Swinney. “There is no doubt you have to be a conditioned athlete to do that for two to three hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon during a NASCAR race. That was quite an experience and we weren’t racing in traffic today.”

Some of the most interesting sites of the day involved getting some of the Clemson linemen into the passenger seat. There are no doors on these race cars. Three workers were needed to help Clemson red-shirt freshman offensive lineman Kalen Davis get into his car. Runningback Jamie Harper enjoyed the experience and stood on the car after his tour as if he had won a NASCAR race.

The trip to the speedway took up the morning activities. The Tigers were to practice for 90 minutes at Charlotte Country Day High School in the afternoon. It will be the last practice of the year for the Tigers, who meet South Florida at the Meineke Car Care Bowl Friday at noon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.