NASCAR Next member Alon Day will take the next step of his racing career this weekend.
Day, a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver, will attempt to make his Xfinity Series debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Carl Long’s MBM Motorsports. He is also scheduled to drive for the team Aug. 27 at Road America.
“I am really excited about this debut, and I want to thank all the sponsors supporting me and everybody who worked so hard to give me this opportunity to race at such a high level and make this dream come true,” Day said in a press release. “There is a lot to learn and I am confident that debuting on a road course will give me a good chance to learn quickly and get a positive result under the checkered flag.”
A native of Ashdod, Israel, Day is in his second year competing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. He’s earned a total of five career wins, three of which came last season when he was named Rookie of the Year on his way to finishing second in the championship.
In 2012, Day competed in six Firestone Indy Light Series races with a best finish of sixth coming at Barber Motorsports Park.
In May, Day was one of 11 drivers named to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class and the first to be chosen from the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. During the announcement, Day expressed hopes of not only getting to compete in a NASCAR national series event, but one day doing so full-time.
“I have never been to Mid-Ohio and I know it is a really challenging track, but I am working very hard to be at my best come August and racing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will be of great help,” says Day. “Everything will be new and with the team we will do our best to get the most of the race. It will be longer than usual for me, so I am training hard to be in the best shape and I am working on the simulator to get to know the track.”
The Mid-Ohio 200 is Saturday and can be seen on at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.