College football and NASCAR worlds are slowly colliding

NASCAR and college football have created a strange crossbred baby. East Carolina and Clemson are both getting cars this racing season.

In a bizarre sports hybrid that could only occur in the Deep South, NASCAR has unveiled two new college-football themed cars for this racing season. An Eastern Carolina University car, driven by Cody Ware, was unveiled by the good folks at Rick Ware Racing this past Sunday.

The No. 51 car, proudly sporting the East Carolina Pirates’ logo and purple-and-gold colors, took the track in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism. Here is a picture of the car just before the race.

Later this year, a Clemson University car will speed off into history at the Pocono 400 and at Darlington. Since the majority of stock car racing teams are based in the Carolinas, there will be a lot of fans that are stoked about the spiffy new paint jobs. It would be even cooler if Deshaun Watson took the wheel, but maybe that’s just me. Here is a picture of the Clemson race car. It’s pretty damn awesome, whether you like Clemson or not.

This particularly surreal bit of sports miscegenation has happened before in 2014 when a Florida State Seminoles-themed car ran in that year’s Daytona 400. Brian Vickers drove the No. 53 car decorated in garnet and gold to pay tribute to the Seminoles 2013 BCS national championship.  In addition, Michael Waltrip’s race team has driven cars honoring both Alabama and Auburn at the races in Talladega.

It looks like there may be more college-themed cars to come in future races.

Next: Oklahoma's new coach should be a win for the Sooners

According to Rick Ware’s Racing Director of Marketing Bryan Clodfelter, “We are also equally enthusiastic at the response we have from many other great Universities from all over the country and look forward to promoting their Universities at other races on the NASCAR schedule.”

I may have to start watching NASCAR more often.