Former UGA quarterback DJ Shockley gets first taste of the Daytona 500
I know he’s fast, but I don’t know how DJ Shockley has time to do it all.
On Saturdays in the fall, he’s the radio sideline analyst for Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network. Outside of that, he’s a FOX 5 sports anchor. And his wife still likes him. And he’s a dad.
Even with all of that, he’s never gone faster than he did this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway:
DJ Shockley’s come a long way since we hosted Georgia’s ‘Shock and Ship’ Podcast (RIP)
I didn’t know he had it in him. One day I’m a high school kid watching him win the SEC Championship as UGA’s quarterback.
The next thing I know, my former podcast co-host is hosting National Championship parades and driving a stock car at the Daytona 500.
DJ Shockley’s career continues to evolve, and I can’t imagine where he will end up next. Formula 1? The Moon?
“It was crazy. That was my first experience at Daytona, and seeing it up close and personal blew me away,” Shockley told me.
Austin Cindric won the race on Sunday in just his eighth Cup Race. I also got to speak with Daytona 500 competitor and super Georgia sports fan Chase Elliott last week.
But I had no idea that one of my respected media colleagues was going to tear up Daytona in only his first time at the track. Shockley told me (and you can watch in his instagram video above) he got the car up to 145 miles per hour.
That’s a lot quicker than DJ Shockley moved past SEC defenders Between the Hedges.
“Yeah man, I couldn’t believe it,” Shock said. “I was pushing it.”
There’s a lot to take in at Daytona
I got to see the Duels Thursday night. Marty Smith and I recorded a podcast all day Friday with a ton of legendary drivers. If you’ve ever been before, you know. It’s special for a reason.
Like Shock, this was my first time at the track as well. I didn’t know what to do with my hands.
I’ll have to take their word for it, but everyone we spoke with told me that NASCAR is back. They told me this weekend just felt different.
I believe them.
The next-gen rides sounded incredible, and NASCAR brass feels confident that the sport will appeal to a younger and broader generation.
Hopefully part of that growth includes more wins for Chase Elliott in the year of the Dawg. I’m still waiting for Georgia’s equipment staff to get him a Georgia football-themed racing helmet.
DJ Shockley opened the door for Georgia football on the race track.
Georgia sold a ton of merchandise with ‘Victory Lane’ on it, since the Dawgs won their National Championship in the racing capital of the world.
It just makes since. It just means more. Make Georgia a racing school.
