After getting his first taste of NASCAR racing in the U.S. last year, Israeli racer Alon Day is ready for the main course: He wants to become a full-time driver in either the Camping World Truck Series or Xfinity Series.
The 25-year-old Day, the first Israeli-born driver in NASCAR history to compete in both the Xfinity and Truck series, finished 13th in his Xfinity debut at Mid-Ohio last summer and 30th at Road America after a late-race incident.
In the Truck Series, he finished 24th at New Hampshire and 26th in the season finale in Miami.
In the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, Day finished second in 2015 and third in 2016, capturing three wins in each of those two seasons.
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Day has the option to race in Europe again, but he’d rather be in the U.S. It’s just a matter of finding sponsorship and a team with good equipment.
Day is no stranger to racing in the U.S., having finished 12th in the 2012 Indy Lights series racing for Belardi Auto Racing (the first Israeli-born driver in that series, as well).
The strongest element of Day’s racing talent is road course racing. Given that, some might wonder why he doesn’t pursue racing in Formula One or IndyCar.
But it’s NASCAR or bust for Day, who is in the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class.
“In the end, I’m trying to race NASCAR, and NASCAR is here in the states,” Day said. “That’s my main priority, for sure. It doesn’t matter if it’s Xfinity or Trucks, but to be here in the United States and not in Europe.
“Going back to Europe is probably going to be a step down because I feel ready enough to race here, but that’s life. It can be tough sometimes, but I’m definitely not stopping looking for sponsors and money for the Trucks, and I really hope I can do it this year.”
Day calls his quest “annoying to be at this part of the year without knowing exactly what I’m going to do in 2017. But I know that no matter what happens, I always have my spot in the Euro Series again and I can try another shot at winning the championship over there and whatever I can do here in the States.”
Day is especially keen on learning how to race on ovals in America, given his prowess as a road and street course racer. He also “would love to see some street tracks in NASCAR, watching those cars driving in the middle of the town. I think it’s a cool idea.”
Day’s quest is all the more compelling in that motorsports is typically not a major sport in his native land. And those motorsports fans there are more apt to follow Formula One.
“I grew up without any motorsports, nothing,” Day said. “When I started racing was in 2012; actually motorsports was illegal in Israel. But as a kid, without any knowledge about racing or motorsports, I started getting interested because of Formula One and NASCAR.
“My vision was the two highest levels in motorsports. When I started racing in Europe and was on the path to Formula One, I realized that Europe was not a place I wanted to be. It’s a completely different atmosphere, completely different style of racing and I changed to NASCAR.
“That’s immediately where I knew I wanted to be. I know that being in Cup is the highest level in motorsports in the world, combined with Formula One. It’s something really special because in Israel, people even now think it’s just people sitting in the car and turning left.
“But when I actually got more success in NASCAR and especially winning (2016 Israeli) athlete of the year, people are actually getting more interested, NASCAR races are now broadcast in Israel and I’m glad people have the opportunity to understand it and realize NASCAR is one of the toughest races in the world.”
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