Panthers TE Greg Olsen to drive NASCAR All-Star race pace car

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen will drive the pace car at the Sprint Cup All-Star race.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen received his certification to the drive the pace car this Saturday night at the Sprint Cup All-Star race, although not without a little scare first.

While Olsen was taking a spin at 120 miles per hour around Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday with Sprint Cup driver Matt DiBenedetto, they had to avoid a metal gate that swung open on the backside of the track.

DiBenedetto broke well in time to avoid any accident.

Olsen joked the ride was ''way more stressful'' than he thought it'd be and that ''it's a good thing we have eight tight ends on the roster right now.''

Eventually Olsen drove the pace car around the track himself - at a much slower speed - in preparation for Saturday night.