Sunday saw two intense NFL playoff games in a pair of conference championships to decide which teams would be playing in Super Bowl 50, and NASCAR Nation was watching.
In the end, the Denver Broncos just barely squeezed by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, 20-18, while the Carolina Panthers – who call NASCAR’s racing hub, Charlotte, home – rolled over the Arizona Cardinals, 49-15.
The Broncos and Panthers will meet on February 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California and will surely have drivers tuning in yet again, as many support the hometown Black and Blue, but a few others are fans of the team from the Mile High State.
Follow along below to see the roller coaster day drivers had while watching a thrilling day of gridiron action.
I got to pull for @Panthers and Peyton Manning today. But not gonna be upset with a Panthers rematch with the Pats. Panthers as SB champs.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 24, 2016
Who’s ready 2 Rock? We r ready for a win @broncos pic.twitter.com/KDSbuWuPtY
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 24, 2016
Little @broncos pre game going on here pic.twitter.com/cubgXLml3P
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 24, 2016
Game changer today? We shall c what @ESanders_10 brings! pic.twitter.com/v6imnWivMx
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 24, 2016
Game one about to go down!
— Casey Mears (@CJMearsGang) January 24, 2016
Thank you @mmschocolate for keeping us @broncos fans game day strong! Game day and/or race day is better w M pic.twitter.com/IFQHEMxrDo
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 24, 2016
Yes!!!! Daniels!!!! #BeatThePatriots #UnitedInOrange
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) January 24, 2016
C’mon @Broncos finish em off!!!
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) January 24, 2016
Yessssss!!!!!!!!!!!! #UnitedInOrange @Broncos
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) January 24, 2016
Yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!!!!! Way to go @Broncos
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) January 24, 2016
Heck of a ball game.
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) January 24, 2016
“Dear Blair Walsh, Hi. My name is Stephen Gostkowski…” #NEvsDEN
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) January 24, 2016
What a game. #kickersAnonymous https://t.co/MHyfbUL0Ho
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) January 24, 2016
That was exciting!!!
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) January 24, 2016
Listening to that game riding down the road with @DanicaPatrick heck of a game!! #NEvsDEN
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) January 24, 2016
Yeah!! Way to go @Broncos Defense! Those guys kept us in the game all day. Field pos…. https://t.co/IQkVh2k62d pic.twitter.com/w3ccfs0t4G
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 24, 2016
We ready @HaleyKDillon @Panthers #KeepPounding #OneCarolina pic.twitter.com/M99TyuQYOM
— Ty Dillon (@tydillon) January 24, 2016
My ❤️ is with @AtlantaFalcons But tonight I will pull for @Panthers so my wife and friends will be happy.
— David Ragan (@DavidRagan) January 24, 2016
Let’s go @Panthers!!!!! #KeepPounding
— Jeb Burton (@JebBurtonRacing) January 24, 2016
Go @Panthers and USA! pic.twitter.com/Lmn8DrCe7p
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) January 24, 2016
Mixed feelings for tonight’s game but I am from Phx and would like to see @AZCardinals win the SuperBowl!!!! #letsgoCards
— JJ Yeley (@jjyeley1) January 24, 2016
@JebBurtonRacing has turned us all into @Panthers fans. #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/lsDfTWRaCe
— tabitha burton (@tabithatburton) January 24, 2016
“@AyeWhitfielddd: @chaseelliott who are you pulling for in the panthers vs cardinals championship game?” Not the panthers.
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) January 25, 2016
“@AlexisMackey_: @chaseelliott why not!?” Surrounded by bandwagon members in NC. And Cam played for Auburn. #godawgs
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) January 25, 2016
“@Parsonhngr2: @chaseelliott Got to root for Thomas Davis at least” Now that I can do, hope he has a good night ����
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) January 25, 2016
The @panthers r stout! Very explosive offense and a defense that’s hard to get around. Thinking #SB50 gonna b DENvsCAR
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) January 25, 2016
This @Panthers game is exciting. If every game is like this I am going to need to start watching more football
— Blake Koch (@BlakeKochRacing) January 25, 2016
There will be plenty of sick days used tomorrow. Congrats @gregolsen88, @ryankalil & the @Panthers. #KeepPounding
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) January 25, 2016
Superbowl bound!
— Ty Dillon (@tydillon) January 25, 2016
This @Panthers ass kicking makes me smile ��
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) January 25, 2016
Congrats to the @Panthers! #SuperBowl50 pic.twitter.com/7k7oSy02PX
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) January 25, 2016
Nice job @Panthers! Impressive!
— Darrell Wallace Jr (@BubbaWallace) January 25, 2016
Congrats @Panthers. Long time comin. The stadium is rocking, the city is alive.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 25, 2016
If #CamNewton keeps throwing seeds like that…#broncos don’t have a chance… Shredded Seahawks and Cardinals..
— Elliott Sadler (@Elliott_Sadler) January 25, 2016
Gunna be an awesome Super Bowl congrats to the panthers dominating performance
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) January 25, 2016
Congrats to the @Panthers, lots of friends who are huge fans. @Broncos will have to work hard for this one
— Regan Smith (@ReganSmith) January 25, 2016
Hell yes. @Panthers
— Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton) January 25, 2016
I have no voice left
— Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton) January 25, 2016
Super Bowl… Settle down! @Panthers
— Casey Mears (@CJMearsGang) January 25, 2016
Although I’ll always be a @Lions fan, quite happy for the city of Charlotte to see them win tonight and go to another super bowl. #Congrats
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) January 25, 2016
I’m a long time @49ers fan but living in NC for many years it’s hard not to pull for @Panthers especially this guy pic.twitter.com/wzBOj403I5
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 25, 2016