Sports

WISE MOVE: NASCAR's Josh Wise gets into Talladega race with help of fans via Reddit, Dogecoin

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Driver Josh Wise prepares for practice as he sit in his car for Sunday's Aaron's 499 NASCAR auto race at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, May 2, 2014, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Images Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Driver Josh Wise pulls out of the garage during practice for Sunday's Aaron's 499 NASCAR auto race at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, May 2, 2014, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Images Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Josh Wise made it to Talladega Superspeedway the new-fashioned way.

An Internet movement started on Reddit by a 16-year-old fan using the digital currency Dogecoin generated enough sponsorship money for Wise's No. 98 Ford Fusion in Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race.

Wise says he'd never heard of the currency and hadn't spent much time on Reddit before that. He says it only took five or six days to meet the goal of $55,000.

The movement was started by Illinois teenager Denis Pavel, who noticed Wise make a strong run at Bristol before finishing 23rd. Phil Parsons Racing also let Reddit users vote on a paint scheme for Wise's car.

Wise says it has "been just a really awesome opportunity" for a small team and a driver trying to break through.