Greg Olsen, tight end for the Carolina Panthers, has been announced as the pace car driver for the Sprint All-Star Race on May 21.
The Panthers play in Charlotte, North Carolina, which neighbors Concord, the home of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Olsen has played the last five seasons with the Panthers after being drafted by the Chicago Bears out of the University of Miami (Florida) in 2007.
“Since arriving in Charlotte I have developed a great admiration for NASCAR and their athletes,” Olsen said in a press release. “Their concept of teamwork and commitment to excellence is second to none, and I have a great deal of respect for the drivers and their teams. I am honored to be included in such an event, and I am looking forward to driving the pace car to kick off the 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.”
Olsen, who wears the No. 88, is no stranger to NASCAR. He’s attended races in the past and has joined forces with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to do fundraising work through The Dale Jr. Foundation and The Greg Olsen Foundation’s “HEARTest Yard” campaign.