BRISTOL, Tenn. — When Caleb Hurd leaps over the pit wall to service Denny Hamlin’s car Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, his mind just might be somewhere else.
Like two hours away at Bristol Motor Speedway, where his Virginia Tech Hokies will play Tennessee in the historic Battle at Bristol.
Hurd, an engineer and gasman on Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, has a vested interest in the game that will attract more than 150,000 fans to break the college football attendance record.
A native of Pulaski, Va., Hurd played for coaching legend Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech before turning his attention to NASCAR.