Julian Edelman gained a newfound appreciation for stock car racing over the weekend.
The New England Patriots wide receiver spent his Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, driving the pace car for the Camping World RV Sales 301 Sprint Cup Series race.
“When I was out there, trying out the car, they let me open it up and I was able to get up to 90-100 miles per hour,” Edelman, a self-described “casual” NASCAR fan, told The Boston Globe. “I pretty much told myself that these dudes are certifiably crazy to be going that fast on that little ring — they’re studs.’’
Edelman’s race-day experience also gave him new perspective on an oft-asked question: Should NASCAR drivers be considered athletes?
“They’re, for sure, athletes,” he said. “It’s an endurance thing, and they’re sitting in the car for three hours, going 200 miles per hour, you’ve got to be focused.”
Brad Keselowski took the checkered flag Sunday after also finishing first in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Loudon.
Photo via Twitter/@FrankTank96
