CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Georgia senior inside linebacker Amarlo Herrera has never been one to shy from contact, amassing 331 career tackles and 112 each of the past two seasons.
Yet when it came to traveling 160 miles per hour as a passenger at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Herrera admitted to chickening out.
"I signed up for it, and I was actually in the front of the line," Herrera said after Saturday afternoon's two-hour practice at Charlotte Country Day School. "Then I saw it go by, and I didn't want any part of it. I walked away. I didn't want to go that fast unless I was driving."
As part of the festivities for Tuesday night's Belk Bowl, Georgia and Louisville players were treated Saturday morning to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Each player had the opportunity to ride three laps around the track that houses the Coca-Cola 600 each Memorial Day weekend.
This is Georgia's first appearance in the Belk Bowl and its accompanying trip to Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Herrera estimated that nearly 90 percent of the Bulldogs felt the need for speed. Coach Mark Richt participated as well, though his car got a little close at times to a car carrying true freshman quarterback Jacob Park.
"When they started taking turns passing each other, it was a little hairy," Richt said. "I felt like we were two or three feet from each other when they were drafting or swinging on by or jumping out front. If my driver flinches just a little, we may not be dead, but we're rolling."
Richt has attended NASCAR races before, but Saturday enhanced his respect for professional drivers.
"We did three laps in maybe two minutes, and these guys go 500 or 600 miles with 40 other cars," he said. "I have a much greater appreciation."
Herrera said the "fat" Bulldogs appeared to have the best time once they squeezed into the car, but not every player had a successful exit from his vehicle.
Hunter Long, a 6-foot-4, 302-pound junior guard, fell to the pavement as he was trying to climb out of his car. Richt said getting out may have been tougher than getting in.
Senior defensive back Damian Swann loved the experience and said he lobbied for Herrera to give it a try.
"It's different from other bowls we've been to, and you've got to take advantage of these opportunities," Swann said. "I wish I could have driven, but that's a little bit out of my league. I think I'll stick to what I do."
Said Richt: "When you saw the smile of everybody coming out of their cars, you knew they had a good time."
Grantham gatherings
Herrera and Swann said they saw Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham at the speedway, with Swann adding that he talked to him. Grantham was Georgia's defensive coordinator for four seasons before leaving in January.
Richt and Grantham visited Friday night at a bowl reception for the coaches and their wives. When asked if there was any "bad blood" between the two, Richt said, "It's a business, and we all understand that. People have to do what they think is best for themselves and their families."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.