— Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen took laps around Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt DiBenedetto and received certification from NASCAR pace car driver Brett Bodine ahead of Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte.

“Last year, I was able to come to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and kind of experience and get a feel of how fast they’re going,” Olsen said. “I don’t think you ever really appreciate it until you’re actually down there in the action.”

Speedway officials also provided Olsen with a Max Papis innovations steering wheel to commemorate his pre-race duties in the All-Star Race.

“I’m sure this is going to be even closer to the action now that I’ll have a lot of guys racing for $1 million on my bumper and waiting for me to get out of the way,” Olsen said. “I’m really excited to be part of such a special event.”

Olsen tallied a career-high 1,104 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season en route to his second Pro Bowl selection.

The All-Pro will join linebacker Luke Kuechly as the second team member in the last three years to pace the field prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.