Dale Jr. says he’ll be nervous to meet Peyton Manning

Dale Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has met Peyton Manning before, but that doesn't mean he won't get nervous when he meets the recently retired Super Bowl champion quarterback Sunday.

Manning is scheduled to join Earnhardt during driver introductions before the Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Just like fans often get when they meet NASCAR's most popular driver, Earnhardt expects to get a little tongue-tied when around Manning as they ride around in the pickup truck waving to fans following driver introductions.

"We'll see how that goes," Earnhardt said Wednesday.

"That will be pretty interesting to have him there in that process and ride around in the back of the truck. I'm sure I'll lock up and get stage fright and get all nervous around him — that's normally what I do around celebrities."

Manning will be an honorary race official for the Food City 500 as the track tries to cross-promote the race as well as the Sept. 10 football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech. Earnhardt and Manning both are spokesmen for Nationwide. ESPN