HOMEWOOD, Ala. -- Samford University student Hogan Whitmire has been to a great deal of NASCAR races at his favorite track -- Talladega Superspeedway -- with his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers. Thursday night, as part of a partnership with Samford, NASCAR's biggest track awarded the senior for making a "mammoth" shot during the men's basketball game against Chattanooga.
From 47 feet away, Whitmire, a former Signal Mountain High School student, was one of two students to make an attempt, sank a half-court shot during halftime, and as a result, won $1,000 tuition on behalf of Talladega Superspeedway.
Hogan Whitmire"It was an unbelievable feeling," said Whitmore, a sports medicine major who says he never really practiced half-court attempts. "I always take crazy shots when I am in the gym and probably shoot better around that range than from the 3-point line, but I never actually tried those shots. I am really thankful to the speedway for offering this promotion. Who knows, maybe Coach Padgett may offer me a scholarship," he joked.
It wasn't Whitmore's first time on the court in Pete Hanna Center, where he is on the practice squad that works with the Lady Bulldog hoops team. "We work mostly on defense with the lady's team, so that probably didn't help with the shot, but I will take it," added Whitmire, who ironically played high school ball in the home city of Thursday night's opponent Chattanooga.
While he plans to put the $1,000 tuition to good use to go to dental school later this year, one place he and his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers will be on May 3 will be the Talladega 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
"We always go to the Talladega races, and will definitely be back in May," said Whitmire, a Jeff Gordon fan who served as president of his fraternity last year. "We will have 50 or more guys come out each race and make it a big social event. We have done it for years and can't wait to go back."
Thursday night's partnership with Samford continues Talladega Superspeedway's commitment to universities across the southeast.