Coastal Carolina University Quarterback Continues his Too Tough to Tame Relationship
DARLINGTON, S.C. (March 23, 2023) — One of college football‘s toughest quarterbacks continues to be Too Tough to Tame.
Darlington Raceway announced today that it has signed a new a NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) agreement with Coastal Carolina University standout Grayson McCall. This continues a relationship that began last year when McCall became the first student-athlete to partner with a NASCAR track under the NCAA‘s new NIL regulations.
“Nobody embodies the Too Tough to Tame spirit of our track like Grayson McCall,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “We thoroughly enjoyed working with him to promote our events last season and marveled at his commitment to excellence both on and off the football field. We look forward to continuing this impactful relationship this year and cheering him on in all his endeavors.”
McCall will continue promoting events at Darlington Raceway, including the upcoming Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR, May 12-14. That weekend culminates in the Goodyear 400 and the celebration of NASCAR‘s 75 greatest drivers of all time. McCall will also have an active presence on the track‘s digital platforms and be featured in some of the track‘s marketing campaigns, while also promoting NASCAR and Darlington on his own social channels.
“The spirit of competition, speed and aggressiveness are no more personified in the sport of NASCAR than just about anywhere. I personally feel that intensity in football,” McCall said. “This year is a special one for me, and continuing my partnership with my friends at Darlington Raceway during NASCAR‘s 75th anniversary is a step towards fulfilling the legacy I want to leave here and solidifying the brand I‘m working to build. Their support of the Chants has been great, and I can‘t wait to get back to the track!”
“Working with Kerry and the team at Darlington continues to demonstrate the power of creative partnerships,” said Faryn Heatly, ESM Sports Marketing Agent. “Doubling down on Grayson’s ability to help drive incremental value to the track experience is exactly the strategy we all sought to expand on. Year two brings with it a great experience in digital opportunities and media, one that can serve as a model for evolution and sustainment in the NIL space.”
McCall, a native of Indian Trail, N.C., is a senior at Coastal Carolina University. With McCall leading at quarterback over the last three seasons, the Chants have boasted a 31-7 overall record including the school‘s first Sun Belt Conference Championship, first bowl game, first bowl win, and first time in the AP/Coaches Polls and entering into the College Football Playoff Rankings. Grayson currently holds the CCU school record with 95 total touchdowns responsible for and 78 touchdown passes.
In 2021, McCall ranked in the upper echelon of NCAA Division I FBS quarterbacks including first in passing efficiency (207.6) and yards per pass attempt (11.92), second in completion percentage (73.0) and passing yards per completion (16.32) and top-25 in five other categories (points responsible per game, passing touchdowns, passing yard per game, total offense per game, points responsible for). At season‘s end, he was recognized with the Blanchard-Rogers Trophy as the State of South Carolina‘s most outstanding college football player.
This past season, McCall‘s on-field performance earned him honors as All-Sun Belt First Team, Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. This Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year award makes him the first and only player to receive the honor three times in Sun Belt Conference history. In the upcoming season, McCall will work to continue cementing his legacy as the most decorated player in Coastal Carolina history. He is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the collegiate ranks and is projected to be a notable NFL draft pick.
To download images and additional information on Grayson McCall, click here.
To learn more about McCall, visit his website at www.therealmccall.com or his Coastal Carolina webpage.
2023 NASCAR Season
NASCAR returns to Darlington Raceway May 12-14 for the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. It begins with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race on Friday, May 12, and continues with the NASCAR Xfinity Series‘ Shriners Children‘s Hospital 200 on Saturday, May 13. That all sets the stage for the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, who return for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 14. That day will be the pinnacle of NASCAR‘s 75th Anniversary celebration, as the sport gathers to honor its 75 greatest drivers of all time.
Then on Labor Day Weekend, Sept, 2-3, the historic Cookout Southern 500 will once again begin the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and cap an action-packed weekend featuring the sport‘s best and brightest. NASCAR tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com..
About Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway, nicknamed The Lady in Black and the track Too Tough To Tame, is home to the award-winning Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR and annually hosts two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and/or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Opening in 1950, Darlington Raceway is “A NASCAR Tradition” and NASCAR‘s original superspeedway with its famed 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval, challenging the sports best in one of the most iconic NASCAR races, the Southern 500u00ae. For more information about Darlington Raceway, visit darlingtonraceway.com. Stay connected to Darlington Raceway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the NASCAR Tracks App.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation‘s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Seriesu2122, NASCAR Xfinity Seriesu2122, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Seriesu2122), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty‘s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Associationu2122 (IMSAu00ae) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championshipu2122, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR‘).
Contact:
Matt Humphrey
NASCAR Communications
386-453-8693
