ATHENS, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Fans packed into Akins Ford Arena to catch an Athens Rock Lobsters win Saturday night and had a welcoming party of nine NASCAR drivers on the concourse.
NASCAR Night brought Kyle Busch, Clayton Green, Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar and others to Athens for a night at the track in the arena.
“Obviously the South is primarily NASCAR (fans) and it has a lot of life in it still and events like this especially in Athens, Georgia really show that,” Hocevar said.
The drivers signed autographs and snapped photos with fans. The stars’ presence might have helped bring a new fan or two to the Lobsters.
Trent Jones is a University of Georgia student from Buford, who said his primary reason for coming to the games was to meet his favorite drivers Hocevar and Chastain.
“Being here and being able to see (the drivers) up close and personal was a lot cooler, so when I saw they were coming, I figured (I) might as well,” Jones said. ” This might be my kind of gateway (into hockey). Get to see it and see how the team plays.”
As for whether fans will see any of the drivers on the ice again anytime soon, the drivers say they will stick to the track.
“They drop the puck and we’ll be carted off,” Chastain said. “They’re sprinting on ice is what it looks like to me, so no not a chance. (We’re) not strong enough, not tough enough for sure.”
The NASCAR Cup Series begins Feb. 1 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for the Cook Out Clash. The first race in Georgia will be at EchoPark Speedway for the Autotrader 400 on Feb. 22.
The Rock Lobsters beat the Pee Dee IceCats, 6-5, on Saturday night. They’ll play the Columbus River Dragons on Sunday before hitting the road to play the IceCats again in Florence, South Carolina, on Friday.
Fans packed into Akins Ford Arena to catch an Athens Rock Lobsters win Saturday night and had a welcoming party of nine NASCAR drivers on the concourse.