In what they hope is a good omen for later in the week, the Mississippi State Bulldogs pulled in to victory lane on Sunday.

The Bulldogs visited Charlotte Motor Speedway, took a turn around the track at the Richard Petty Driving Experience and met players from North Carolina State, and then packed in an afternoon practice during a whirlwind day of activity in Charlotte.

Mississippi State and North Carolina State will play each other in the Belk Bowl Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

Sunday was Mississippi State’s second day in Charlotte, and after practice defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said the players seemed rested, refreshed, and ready to go after some time off for Christmas break.

“I think it’s a credit to the leadership on your team and I think our guys came here ready to go. I think they respect the time Coach Mullen gave them to be home for Christmas and they understood the urgency when they came back here,” Diaz said. “We’ll come back out here tomorrow and be ready. We still believe our best game is out there and that’s our goal for Wednesday afternoon.”

While the bowl game is a business trip, the first couple of days in Charlotte for both teams have also been about having fun.

On Sunday, North Carolina State players received their bowl gifts — a watch and a shopping spree at a local Belk store.

Both Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen and his counterpart from North Carolina State, Dave Doeren, received a jacket and hat during their visit to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Each team also posed for a photo with a race car painted in school colors.

Players from both teams were treated to a barbecue lunch at the track, and everyone from both sides got to take a turn around the track in the Petty Experience race cars.

After arriving in town Friday night, Mississippi State players and coaches took in an NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. The Bulldogs also had a day full of team meetings and a practice.

“The key to a bowl game is understanding the importance of work and then separating and experiencing the fun,” Mullen said after Saturday’s practice, the team’s first since Dec. 19. “Here they get to go to an NBA basketball game and a great downtown area. They just get to see something new that a lot of them have never experienced before. I think the setup here is as good as I’ve seen anywhere.”

BELK BOWL

Mississippi State vs. North Carolina State

Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., at Charlotte, N.C.

TV: ESPN; Radio: 105.5 FM