CONCORD, N.C. -- In this week's episode of Game Day to Race Day, No. 5 tire carrier R.J. Barnette unraveled his path from college football player at Samford University to interning in Hendrick Motorsports' pit department to becoming a full-time pit athlete for with the organization.
"I wanted to work in the weight room," Barnette said. "I wanted to be a strength and conditioning coach; that's what I went to school for. When I got here, I started realizing that I can do that; why am I training this guy to be athletic when I am already athletic? Why don't I just do his job?"
After watching his Samford win its first college football game last week, Barnette is looking forward to starting a new win streak in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason as the No. 5 crew prepares for the second playoff race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday.
Check out the video above to hear Barnette break down his steps to Hendrick Motorsports and catch him and the No. 5 team in action on Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN as they take on Richmond.