NASCAR drivers mingle with fans in Center City

A.J. Mullin says he doesn't remember much about when he became a NASCAR fan.

The only details the 12-year old from South Jersey recalled were that he flipped to a race on TV one day and was hooked.

"He watches pretty much every race . . . It probably started about five years ago," his father, Eric, said. "And he's gotten me more into the sport now that he watches it."

A.J. said he has his favorite drivers like any fan. In a crowd in front of the Comcast Center at 17th Street and JFK Boulevard, the Mullins were hoping for a chance to meet Xfinity Series driver Ryan Reed.

NASCAR teamed with Dover International Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Comcast on Tuesday for the Xfinity Philadelphia Takeover, an event leading up to series races in Dover, Del. on June 3 and at Pocono on June 10.

"The fans are awesome - they come out in crazy numbers," Reed said. "It's not a place you would have traditionally thought of as a racing community, but there is a lot of racing here."

Among the drivers taking part were Roush Fenway Racing's Reed and Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr.; JR Motorsports' Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett, and William Byron; Stewart-Haas Racing's Cole Custer; GMS Racing's Spencer Gallagher; Richard Childress Racing's Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, and Ben Kennedy; Chip Ganassi Racing's Brennan Poole; and Kaulig Racing's Blake Koch.

The drivers signed autographs and took pictures with fans in the morning at the Comcast Center Plaza. They also gave away tickets for the upcoming races.

"It's neat to see the fans and kind of get a different perspective," said Byron, a 19-year old series rookie.

"The drivers are really interactive with their fans," Eric Mullin said. "They do a lot of signings. They'll shake your hand, they'll take pictures without any problems. Other sports don't have that same interaction. NASCAR is very much fan friendly."

The drivers took their vehicles on a parade through downtown, making a stop at City Hall, where the pit crew for Jones changed the No. 33 car's tires on both the north and south side of Broad Street in quick order.

The drivers returned to the Comcast Center for a group photo before making stops at Reading Terminal Market, Pat's and Geno's, and Thomas Edison High School. The day concluded with a meet-and-greet with more fans at Xfinity Live and the Phillies game, where Reed threw out the first pitch.

Byron, who drove a Camaro in the parade, was initially taken aback by the spectators lined up along the streets on the way to City Hall.

"This is cool," he said.

He was asked if other cities had similar events.

"No," Byron said. "Not like this."