LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 12: Host Peyton Manning speaks onstage at The 2017 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning may have retired from football two years ago, but he has continued to find ways to entertain himself and fans — one way is by driving the pace car for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500.
The former MVP quarterback gave a rather hilarious interview to FOX Sports on Sunday while driving around the same track as some of the fastest stock cars in the world.
“I’ve never been sideways before,” said Manning as he drove around one of the turns.
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“I didn’t realize these guys were going to be quite so close to me,” Manning said with a laugh. “What a cool environment to be a part of.”
Austin Dillon ended up winning the event at Daytona International Speedway, the first Daytona 500 victory of his career. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin filled out the podium.
Manning has been known for his humor before: he has appeared in several quirky commercials with NationWide Insurance and Papa John’s Pizza, and recently voiced a character (a bull named Guapo!) in the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated animated film Ferdinand.
The two-time Super Bowl champion also showed off his comedic chops by delivering a set at the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe in 2016. Manning ripped the former brat pack and West Wing actor for falsely reporting his retirement from the NFL in a tweet in 2012.
Manning made news last week, as he is reportedly being pursued by both ESPN and FOX to be part of their coverage team for the 2018 NFL season. ESPN is hoping to fill the vacancy left by Jon Gruden, who left as a Monday Night Football analyst to become the next head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
Fans would likely love the idea of Manning returning to the NFL scene as a commentator.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 12: Host Peyton Manning speaks onstage at The 2017 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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