As for why which may be, the brand new automotive itself must be a part of it. The addition of a number of extra highway programs, the NASCAR Storage 56 entry at Le Mans, in addition to modern packages akin to Project91 and others prefer it have all helped to lure a number of worldwide racing stars into the world of inventory automotive racing.
2023 noticed many drivers well-known in motorsports however fully new to NASCAR make shock appearances and in a single case, even attain Victory Lane. As we mirror on the 2023 season, let’s have a look again at these drivers, who got here from each nook of the racing world
Pastrana and Daly within the Daytona 500
Excessive sports activities athlete Travis Pastrana made an actual try at going NASCAR racing a decade in the past, however discovered little success as a full-time driver within the Xfinity Sequence. Pastrana has lengthy dreamed of working the Daytona 500, however by no means actually discovered the correct alternative.
Properly, with the assistance of 23XI Racing, he aimed to alter that this 12 months however there have been no ensures. With zero observe, he needed to attempt to qualify for the game’s largest race — the Daytona 500. One way or the other, he managed to just do that with none drama. He made the present on qualifying day and would go on to be a shock contender within the closing laps of the large race.
It appeared like he would possibly even come away with a top-five end after escape the carnage on Sunday, however one awkward push on the ultimate lap despatched him sideways down the observe. An enormous crash ensued, and Pastrana was within the coronary heart of it. The incident ended the five hundred, however he nonetheless managed to regain management of his automotive and end eleventh in his one and solely Cup Sequence begin to date.
Afterwards, Pastrana known as it “one of the thrilling issues I’ve ever achieved,” and that is one thing coming from the man who modeled his total life path after Evel Knievel.
Photograph by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Photos
Travis Pastrana, 23XI Racing, Black Rifle Espresso Toyota Camry
A veteran of over 100 IndyCar races, Daly had already made his Cup debut in 2022. Like Pastrana although, he hoped to make his Daytona 500 debut within the sixty fifth working of the occasion. His journey into the five hundred was much more spectacular than Pastrana’s, contemplating what he was up towards.
Daly needed to race his method in and the automotive was not going to make it simple for him. He had points earlier than the beginning of his Duel race, the automotive shaking violently as he exited the pits. Dealing with points and an absence of a pace noticed him fall off the lead lap, and but, luck was on his aspect. A crash involving Austin Hill opened the door for Daly to sneak his method into the primary occasion, happening to complete twenty ninth within the Daytona 500.
Two F1 World Champions
2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen returned to drive the Project91 entry for Trackhouse Racing after making his debut at Watkins Glen in 2022. He entered the Cup race on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas, the location of his ultimate win as a Components 1 driver. He was joined by one other F1 World Champion as Jenson Button entered the race in preparation for the Le Mans 24 the place was a part of the driving force lineup for the favored Storage 56 NASCAR entry.
The occasion was chaotic, to place it mildly. “It was an emotional rollercoaster” for Button, who practically stop mid-race on account of warmth exhaustion. He even had contact along with his fellow F1 driver at one level.
Photograph by: Motorsport Photos
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Kimi Raikkonen, Trackhouse Racing, Onx Properties / iLOQ Chevrolet Camaro, Justin Haley, Kaulig Racing, Celsius Chevrolet Camaro, Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Bass Professional Retailers Toyota Camry, Jenson Button, Rick Ware Racing, Mobil 1 Ford Mustang
Raikkonen gambled late throughout a warning and stayed out in a bid to realize observe place, nevertheless it would not matter a lot as he was collected in one of many many incidents that marred the end. Raikkonen ended up twenty ninth, whereas Button completed a decent 18th on debut.
Button made two extra begins with a Twenty first-place end on the Chicago Road Course and twenty eighth on the Indy Highway Course.
Le Mans 24 winners tackle NASCAR highway programs
Each Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi have received general at Le Mans, however inventory automotive racing was a completely new problem for them each. Rockenfeller was a part of the driving force lineup for the Storage 56 NASCAR entry as nicely, so he made his debut in 2022 as he appeared to realize extra expertise within the Subsequent Gen automotive.
He returned in 2023, working a complete of 5 races over the previous two years with finest end of nineteenth. That end result got here at Watkins Glen, driving for the crew owned by Storage 56 co-driver Jimmie Johnson and piloting the No. 42 Legacy Motor Membership machine.
It was at Le Mans itself the place Kobayashi introduced his plans to offer NASCAR a attempt, becoming a member of forces with 23XI Racing to drive the No. 67 Toyota as Pastrana did within the 500. He was to race on the Indianapolis Highway Course, fulfilling a lifelong dream of competing on the high degree of inventory automotive racing. Sadly, misfortune discovered him a number of occasions all through the race and he completed thirty third. He was the primary Japanese driver to compete within the Cup Sequence in 20 years, and Kobayashi hoped to pave the best way for extra Japanese drivers to race in NASCAR along with his Indy debut.
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Kamui Kobayashi, 23XI Racing, Toyota Real Components Toyota Camry
“It’s a dream world, and if a Japanese driver may win right here, that may be superior,” mentioned Kobayashi post-race. Tremendous Components drivers Toshiki Oyu and Kazuto Kotaka accompanied him to the race as spectators.
Nevertheless, there’s a a 3rd sportscar ace we have to point out too. This 12 months additionally noticed IMSA star Jordan Taylor make his Cup debut, subbing for an injured Chase Elliott within the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at COTA. He certified in fourth place, however was finally concerned in one of many many incidents that plagued the occasion.
The three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona (together with twice general), who additionally claimed a category victory within the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, completed twenty fourth in his Cup debut.
Supercars invasion and historical past made
Shane van Gisbergen was simply the most important story of the 12 months when speaking about these worldwide racing stars. Trackhouse introduced its part-time Project91 entry again for the inaugural working of the Chicago Road Course race. The three-time Supercars champion was introduced in as the driving force, and lots of together with myself knew he might be an actual risk earlier than he even acquired a lap behind the wheel.
Because the observe situations switched from moist to dry, he completely tore by the sector. He drove from 18th to 1st within the ultimate 30 laps, making historical past as the primary driver to win a Cup race on debut in over 60 years. He was additionally the primary New Zealander to win a NASCAR Cup Sequence race, and that actually day modified the trajectory of his total profession.
Later within the 12 months, SVG introduced plans to depart Supercars and pursue a full-time profession in NASCAR with Trackhouse Racing. He’ll compete in choose races throughout all three nationwide ranges of the game subsequent 12 months with the intention of being a full-time Cup driver in 2025.
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Race winner Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet Camaro
Three-time and reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen was even watching SVG as he made that late-race cost, admitting that he was “actually screaming” when his fellow Purple Bull driver claimed victory.
Van Gisbergen shouldn’t be the primary Supercars ace to sort out NASCAR and emerge victorious with Marcos Ambrose profitable twice in Cup and 5 occasions as a Xfinity Sequence driver in a profession spanning seven years. The truth is, SVG was not the one Supercar driver to run a NASCAR Cup race this 12 months!
Van Gisbergen returned for the Indy RC, and a well-known face joined him as present Supercars factors chief Brodie Kostecki entered the race within the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. He confirmed pace, however the stars didn’t align for him as they did for SVG at Chicago. Whereas van Gisbergen completed tenth at Indy, once more making historical past as the primary driver in 45 years to open their Cup profession with back-to-back top-tens, Kostecki completed twenty second after playing with a late-race pitstop.
However along with his previous experiences whereas dwelling in North Carolina, one has to surprise if Kostecki could someday comply with SVG to NASCAR.
A mud ringer
NASCAR has seen many highway course ‘ringers’ through the years, however a mud ringer? Kaulig Racing introduced in somebody who matches that description for NASCAR’s lone grime race on the 2023 Cup Sequence calendar. Jonathan Davenport, a three-time champion of the Lucas Oil Late Mannequin Sequence, entered the Bristol Grime Race within the No. 13 Chevrolet.
His achievements on grime are many, and there was a little bit of buzz round Davenport forward of this race. Sadly, he by no means noticed the checkered flag in his debut, ending thirty sixth after being concerned in a crash with just below 100 laps to go.
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Jonathan Davenport, Kaulig Racing, Nutrien Ag Options Chevrolet Camaro
These have been just some of the names that introduced added intrigue to the 2023 NASCAR Cup season, grabbing new eyeballs from followers of motorsports the world over and showcasing simply how exhausting inventory automotive racing might be for the uninitiated — until you are SVG.
The Indy RC tied a document for foreign-born drivers within the area for a single Cup race at six, and I’ve a sense that document could fall within the very close to future.
