Prior to the 2017 NFL Draft, NASCAR driver and die-hard Carolina Panthers fan Austin Dillon had a premonition.

When Christian McCaffrey was at Stanford, he and the third-generation racing star had formed a connection. And prior to the Draft, Dillon sent McCaffrey a message.

"I hit him up on a direct message, I was like, ‘Hey man, I think you’re going to get drafted by the Panthers,'" said Dillon. "'I feel it. I feel like you're coming to the Panthers.'"

Dillon was right. And speaking on a recent NASCAR on NBC podcast, Dillon discussed the friendship that he and McCaffrey have formed: A friendship that will now see McCaffrey attend Sunday's Daytona 500 as a special guest of Dillon's.

McCaffrey picked as good as any of Dillon's races to attend: Last year, Dillon won his first Daytona 500 by virtue of controversial contact with race leader Aric Almirola, giving him his second Cup Series victory and bringing his No. 3 Dow Chevrolet Camaro to Victory Lane 20 years after Dale Earnhardt's lone triumph in The Great American Race driving the car Dillon drives now. Both of Dillon's Cup victories have come in marquee races, as he claimed his first win in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"I'm glad he's gonna come and enjoy (the Daytona 500) in his offseason," said Dillon. "He’s so strict about what he does during the season and during the offseason. He’s just a legend when it comes to training and taking care of his body. His diet, he’s really serious. If you can get him to slip out, it’s like once in a lifetime. He doesn't really go out and do a whole lot because he’s so focused on his craft."

Sunday will not be the first race that McCaffrey attends, as he was among the members of the Panthers who attended NASCAR's All-Star Race in Charlotte last May. But both McCaffrey and Dillon have come to be friendly beyond their respective professions: The two have hung out in the past year, and both now share a hair stylist. McCaffrey has also inspired Dillon to commit himself to both his diet and physical fitness, as he was left in awe of McCaffrey when the two went to an organic restaurant in downtown Charlotte.

"He talked about certain things that he does and doesn't eat, and I was like 'Man, I was doing that a couple years back and I stopped ... No bread, no cheese was my deal. But he kind of takes it to another level with certain things. I'm interested in that, I'm gonna learn more from him this year. ... He is so focused on his craft, and it's cool to see."

Based on the results of time trial qualifying on Sunday, Dillon appears to be well-poised to defend his Daytona 500 crown. Dillon posted the 10th-fastest time in qualifying, and will start fifth in his Gander RV Duel race to determine his final starting spot. Dillon is seeking to become the first driver to win the Daytona 500 in back-to-back years since Sterling Marlin accomplished the feat in 1994 and 1995.