Pro Day season is in full swing as NFL teams get a closer look at top prospects before the 2025 NFL Draft. An interesting trend has emerged in recent years — football players transitioning to NASCAR pit crews. It’s become common enough that NASCAR representatives have been seen alongside NFL evaluators at Pro Days.
Clemson University has already sent multiple former players to NASCAR pit crews, and NASCAR officials were attending the school’s prospect showcase.
NASCAR Scouting College Football Players for Pit Crews
Pro Days give prospects one last chance to showcase their abilities to all 32 NFL teams, performing Combine-style testing and on-field drills at their school’s facility. But in recent years, another professional league has joined the scouting scene.
Clemson says all 32 NFL teams are at today’s pro day. Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is the lone head coach.
NASCAR reps are also here looking for jackmen, fuel men, and the like. (Landon Walker, Sheridan Jones among those who have transitioned into racing crew work.)
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) March 13, 2025
Jon Blau, who covers Clemson athletics for The Post and Courier, recently tweeted, “Clemson says all 32 NFL teams are at today’s pro day. Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is the lone head coach. NASCAR reps are also here looking for jackmen, fuel men, and the like. (Landon Walker, Sheridan Jones among those who have transitioned into racing crew work.)”
Former Clemson Stars Fuel NASCAR’s Fast-Paced World
Walker, Jones, and Jonathan Willard have paved a new path for football players once their playing days are over. The three have joined different NASCAR pit crews and found a new home for their athletic ability.
Walker comes from a football family — his father was a member of Clemson’s 1981 National Championship team. He played offensive tackle for the Tigers from 2007 to 2011, helping lay the foundation for the program’s success. Walker won an ACC Championship in his final season before joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he has remained ever since.
Jones played for Clemson from 2019 to 2023, collecting 91 tackles, three interceptions, and three ACC Championships. After graduating, he joined the Team Penske pit crew as a tire changer.
Willard played linebacker at Clemson from 2009 to 2011, finishing his career with 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups. He was part of the 2011 ACC Championship team alongside Walker. He later transitioned to jackman after a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Pit crew jobs are demanding, as shown in a video highlighting Walker’s time at Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR is deeply rooted in the South, so it’s no surprise that many team officials attended Clemson’s Pro Day. This has quickly become an additional career path for football players looking for opportunities after stepping off the field.