NASCAR

You're about to watch the greatest sack of NFL player Marcell Dareus' career ... his total takedown of a TMZ employee using his superior NASCAR knowledge.

Dareus appeared on the "TMZ Sports" TV show and opened up about his newfound love of NASCAR ... when our resident TMZ NASCAR know-it-all jumped in and began to riff with him.

Here's the problem ... dude didn't know what he was talking about and Marcell called him out on it HARD in front of the entire newsroom.

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. just revealed to the world he happily eats mayonnaise and banana sandwiches ... and the world responded with appropriate disgust and shock.

Dale took to his Twitter account moments ago and posted a picture of the half-made mayo and 'nana monstrosity, with the caption "Making my favorite sandwich. I swear it's delicious. @Hellmanns."

Obviously no one believed him ... and the reaction in the Twittosphere was swift with Dale getting clowned mercilessly in his comments section. Here are some of the best.

"@DaleJr is this a cry for help?"

”@DaleJrIs this some sort of sick joke?"

"@DaleJr Perhaps South Carolina or Tennessee will welcome you and your shenanigans with open arms but that will not be tolerated here."

Add this to the "Seriously, Like For Real Bro?" file ...

2015 Daytona 500 champ Joey Logano just made a bombshell admission ... one that really makes you feel for a guy that makes his ENTIRE LIVING behind the wheel of a car ...

He actually gets car sick.

We got Joey out in Fontana getting ready to burn some rubber competing in NASCAR's Auto Club 400 Sunday when we asked about his driving habits away from the track.

That's when he dropped it on us ... saying he never lets his wife -- or anyone -- drive him around because the world class speedster gets an upset tummy if anyone else has the wheel.

All famous jacked white dudes look the same ... at least to some people in Thailand where NASCAR superstar Carl Edwards says he was once mistaken for the greatest swimmer of all time.

Edwards admits he was at a pool at the time (and fun fact: they're both super ripped) ... but the way he tells the story is pretty hilarious.

We also talked racing with the speedster -- who admitted he once zoned out behind the wheel because he couldn't get that FarmersOnly.com theme song out of his head.

Can't really blame the guy ... it's super catchy.

Kurt Busch is firing back at the clothing company that sued him ... saying he lost hundreds of thousands of dollars into a brand that operated like a Ponzi scheme.

Busch is countersuing Panic Switch clothing line, saying he gave them a ton of big time exposure and money and never got it back. Kurt claims the company used his $375k investment to help pay off a $500k loan they had already taken out.

He says he introduced Panic Switch execs to other big name NASCAR drivers, who cut deals with the company but ended up backing out after PS didn't pay royalties or show proof of sales.

Tony Stewart could have avoided striking and killing Kevin Ward Jr. but instead chose to terrorize Ward by driving recklessly... so claims Ward's parents, who have filed a wrongful death suit.

The parents say Stewart had complete disregard for Kevin's life a year ago when his race car struck and killed the 20-year-old.

The lawsuit claims Stewart gunned his 700 HP car as he drove by Ward. Stewart's car slid and struck Ward with the rear tire, hurling him 25 feet. The suit claims Stewart gunned the engine to "terrorize" Ward.

There were rumors of beef between the two, which fueled speculation Stewart intentionally plowed into Ward with his car when he ran onto the track ... something he denies.

Stewart was cleared of criminal charges. Authorities also say Ward was high on weed when he got out of his car.

Ward's family still believes the death was avoidable and they want to take it to a civil jury.

Reps for Stewart have no comment.

For NASCAR star Brad Keselowski ... getting devoured by fake flying sharks is way harder than driving into a corner at 180 mph -- cause he told us his "Sharknado 3" cameo was actually a bitch to shoot.

The former Sprint Cup champ joined us on "TMZ Hollywood Sports" to talk about his epic death scene in the latest 'Sharknado' flick ... and dropped a bombshell.

Brad says it took him 40 to 50 takes to get it right, even though the scene is less than 10 seconds long! It's not what you think -- BK says he has acting experience. He just doesn't have "Sharknado" acting experience, and it's a totally different beast.

Danica Patrick's become a devout follower of yoga ... and she's making us devout fans of her following yoga.

Brad Keselowski's played the role of NASCAR champion, and even NASCAR villain -- but his greatest role yet will be ... shark food.

Yes, the former Sprint Cup champ's got a meaty role in tonight's premiere of "Sharknado 3" ... and he's very proud of the work he put into what he calls, "a story that had to be told."

BK gave his fans a behind the scenes look with this video -- and even got co-star Ian Ziering and famed Thespian David Spade to co-sign on his performance. It's pretty hysterical.

And watch for the scene stealer in this clip ... Brad's teammate Joey Logano.

Here's NASCAR racer Danica Patrick showing off her insanely toned physique.

FYI -- Patrick's super into yoga ... and is constantly posting pics of herself doing various poses when she's not not winning races.

Clearly, it does a body good.

NASCAR is reminding everyone where it stands in the raging debate over the Confederate flag ... saying it BANNED the controversial symbol a long time ago ... and ain't nothing changed.

The debate over the flag has intensified ever since South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley vowed to have the flag removed from the statehouse in the wake of the tragic racial attack in the state last week.

NASCAR -- headquartered next door in North Carolina -- released a statement today, commending the governor and reminding the world ... they dissed the flag a long time ago.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is taking the ultimate checkered flag ... he's getting married!

NASCAR's most popular driver proposed to longtime girlfriend Amy Reimann while vacationing Wednesday in Germany. Reimann posted a pic -- naturally flashing her engagement rock -- in a Lutheran church Dale says his family attended 300 years ago.

Reimann and Earnhardt have been dating since 2009 ... and you gotta figure she knew the question was coming sooner than later. Dale gave her a shout out in a commercial he shot last year.

You don't mention a run-of-the-mill GF in an ad you know will air constantly during NASCAR races.

How do you make NASCAR even whiter than it already is???

Just watch this video of Jeff Gordon rapping with a 7-year-old kid.

Patrick Dempsey is making serious strides on the racing circuit -- not only impressing other drivers ... but already racking up a solid bunch of race groupies ... so says NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip.

The former "Grey's Anatomy" star recently left the show -- and has been making a serious effort to climb the ranks in the world of pro race car driving.

And apparently, his efforts are not going unnoticed -- with Waltrip telling us McDreamy has a strong legion of female fans who can't get enough of him at the track.

Dan Bilzerian is new face of NASCAR ... well, at least for one race ... 'cause the billionaire playboy's grill will be on the front hood of a car competing in Saturday's Sprint Cup Race ... TMZ Sports has learned.

So, how the hell did he make that happen? Dan's a huge poker player --and he recently beat the snot out of BK Racing owner Ron Devine.

But instead of forcing Ron to pay up in cash, Dan wanted to go all Ricky Bobby ... so he made a deal to get his mug plastered on one of Ron's NASCAR whips, which will be competing at Richmond International Speedway.

The final product is hilarious ... with Dan's giant bearded face right on the front of Matt DiBenedetto's #83 car. He also added a sticker of Dan's pet goat Zeus to the rear for good measure.

Baaaaaaad ass.

#GoatJoke

FOX Sports announcer Steve Byrnes died Tuesday of cancer ... just 2 days after NASCAR fans, drivers and crew members paid him an emotional track side tribute.

Byrnes -- one of FOX's leading reporters for its NASCAR coverage -- was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in August of 2013. He was forced to take an indefinite leave from the job last year in October.

FOX and NASCAR teamed with Stand Up to Cancer to dedicate Sunday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway to Steve. Before the race people in the stands ... and crew members on pit road held up signs with Steve's name.

Steve watched the race on TV, and afterward tweeted his thanks for the show of love and support.

Byrnes is survived by his wife Karen and their 12-year-old son Bryson. He was 56.