Among the many perks of being newly named to Baseball’s Hall of Fame, apparently, is a great seat in the Daytona 500 pre-race drivers meeting.
There was Chipper Jones up front Sunday afternoon, perched between NASCAR’s most popular former driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., on his right and one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses, Charlize Theron, on his left. Yeah, life is good.
Peyton Manning was two chairs down.
They all were part of the dignitary class attending Sunday’s big race, each given some sort of ceremonial title (Earnhardt the grand marshal, Theron the honorary starter, Manning the honorary pace car driver).
And Jones, an honorary official, whatever that is.
“Smile big, glad-hand some people,” Jones said, describing his duties Sunday. “I don’t know what the race official means.”
“If I have to black-flag somebody, I will,” he joked.
Growing up just 36 miles away from Daytona Beach, in tiny Pierson, Fla., Jones has a personal connection to this place and this race.
“This has been home to me. I grew up going to the Daytona 500, the Firecracker 400s (the summer race here), my whole adolescent life. To be able to come back now as a big part of this race is truly an honor for me,” he said.
All the Daytona 500 is to him is, “the coolest race there is on the planet,” that’s all.
The Braves of the 1990s, early 2000s, had strong connections to the Cup series. Manager Bobby Cox was a fan then. Coach Ned Yost was a friend to the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. Racing pools were big in the Braves clubhouse.
Jones always threw his support behind Jeff Gordon, and still today finds himself drawn to Gordon’s old ride, the No. 24 car, now driven by rookie William Byron.
But there is a new rooting interest now. Young Chase Elliott is bearing the legacy of his father, Awesome Bill from Dawsonville. Bill Elliott won two Daytona 500s among his 44 Cup victories. At Daytona, his son is running his first race in a car bearing the same number as his father (9).
One of Jones’ first acts after arriving at the Daytona infield was meeting with the Elliotts, then signing a couple bats for Chase with that new HOF autograph.
“It’s hard not to pull for Chase. I think it’s great that we have an Elliott back in the 9 car. His dad was a mainstay in the 9 car for so very long. But it’s hard for me not to pull for the 24, I’ve pulled for the 24 for so long, been a huge fan of the Hendricks drivers for a long time as well,” he said of his split allegiances.
Then Jones added, just as any good honorary official should, “I just want to see a good race, see everybody in one piece when it’s over.”
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