Joe Kinsey
Videos by OutKick
Former NFL veteran safety Bernard Pollard Jr., who spent two seasons in Nashville with the Titans and still calls Tennessee home, learned Tuesday that he’s been chosen to wave the green flag at this weekend’s NASCAR race at Nashville Speedway, but there’s a big issue.
The NASCAR junkie, who calls himself the Black Dale Jr. is fired up for the assignment, but climbing into the starter’s stand presents a problem. “I’m afraid of heights,” Pollard explained as he nodded his head over the news. That’s right, Pollard has a dream assignment, but it’s going to come with a mental battle.
Just got the news… 🤣😂🤣 #Ally400 #DoItRight #NASCAR @NashvilleSuperS pic.twitter.com/R29i2TEI1w
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) June 15, 2021
While some famous people end up waving green flags because they have movies coming out or they just released a new album, Pollard’s actually a legitimate new fan of the sport. “Growing up in Indiana I was never introduced to @nascar. I knew about it but didn’t know about it. In 2020 I gave it a try and when I say I’m in love with the sport would be an understatement. I watch weekly and even keep up with it on social media,” the Super Bowl champion wrote last week on Instagram.
As if waving the green flag isn’t exciting enough for a guy who used to chase down quarterbacks, Nashville will also be Pollard’s first NASCAR race. “I NEVER EVER thought anything like this would happen,” Pollard wrote about his working relationship with race sponsor Ally.
It would be easy to assume Pollard just became a race fan like a month ago because of his working relationship with a team sponsor, but this actually developed during COVID when the Bonecrusher got hooked on the sport by chance. He watched a race at Martinsville, and that was it. NASCAR fans started helping Pollard understand the nuances of what he’s watching, and now the former NFL vet even has a diecast collection.
Four days from now, he’ll climb into that stand and live out a dream in the making that developed over the last 12 months.
This is pretty amazing. Last night and today I was greeted by #NASCAR fans welcoming me to the sport. This has been pretty cool. Wednesday night is going to be the first race I’ll be watching. Let’s go!!!!
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) June 9, 2020
This might be a stupid question but I’ve NEVER been in a race car or race truck (👀) but here it goes. Do drivers have their foot on a gas pedal (the whole race) or is it some type of cruise control? 😬 y’all I’m sorry but this is new to me… #NASCAR
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) June 14, 2020
Got involved last year and fell in love with the sport. I didn’t grow up watching or knowing anything about the sport. If anything was said about it was “black people don’t do that.” Imagine hearing that! I gave it a try and it went against everything that was said to me.
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) June 15, 2021
