A Different Kind of Visitor to the Allen N. Reeves Complex
The final day of fall camp brought more than just football drills. Team Penske rolled into Clemson’s practice facility with some big names: Michael Nelson, NASCAR’s President of Operations and a Clemson grad from Anderson; former Tiger cornerback Sheridan Jones, now a pit crew tire changer; and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano.
Tigers Take a Spin at Pit Crew Life
Before practice, Clemson players and coaches swapped cleats for pit guns, trying their hand at tire changes and jacking up the number 22 car that Logano drives. Laughter and competition filled the air, but the highlight came when Logano fired up his car and tore into a burnout right outside the Allen N. Reeves Football Complex, leaving smoke, cheers from the team, and tire marks behind.
Klubnik Fired Up by the Experience
Starting quarterback Cade Klubnik couldn’t stop smiling afterward.
“Oh, it was awesome,” he said. “I’ve never really been a huge NASCAR guy, but that was like top five coolest things we’ve ever done in Clemson football. That was unbelievable, man. I was so fired up—especially when he burned out the tires at the end. There was smoke everywhere.”
Vizzina Soaks in the Lessons
Backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina said the visit gave him a new perspective.
“Joey was just really cool to all of us, and he wanted to teach us things because not everyone’s a big NASCAR fan,” Vizzina said. “So, I was able to learn a good bit today.”
Shifting Gears Toward the Opener
Once the fun was over, focus shifted back to football. With the season opener looming, Klubnik emphasized the importance of finishing preparations strongly.
“Obviously, I’m excited to go play a game and feel the buzz going around,” Klubnik said. “But there’s still a lot of stuff we need to do between now and next Saturday.”
Winning Is the Only Stat That Matters
For Klubnik, the chase this season isn’t about numbers—it’s about victories.
“I don’t really pay attention to my stats,” he said. “At the end of the day, I want to go win. That’s the stat that really matters. If I throw for eight touchdowns and 450 yards, but we lose, what am I patting myself on the back for?”
Vizzina Embracing His Role at Clemson
For Vizzina, fall camp ended with a message of patience and perspective. He’s focused on developing and taking advantage of opportunities when they come.
“During practice I need to be able to go out there with the ones and score against top teams in the country,” he said. “If an opportunity arises, I’ll take advantage of it, but for me it’s just one game at a time.”
He also explained why staying at Clemson has never been in doubt.
“This place is very special,” Vizzina said. “I love Clemson just because of Clemson. My family’s fallen in love with it. I could sit here and complain about not playing, or I can look at it as I’m sitting behind one of the best players in college football and learning from his experiences.”
Fall Camp Closes, Eyes on LSU
With fall camp officially in the books—and tire smoke still hanging in the memory—Clemson’s attention now turns to Week 1. The Tigers will open the season in a primetime showdown against the Tigers of LSU, a matchup that feels as big as any in the early college football slate.
The NASCAR cameo was a fitting way to close fall camp: high-speed energy, precision under pressure, and a reminder that the real race begins on August 30th at 7:30 p.m.
