DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Four-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton tweeted a good luck note to Darrell Wallace Jr. a few hours before Wallace competed in his first Daytona 500.
Wallace will become the first African-American to compete in the Daytona 500 since Wendell Scott in 1969.
Wallace will start the race seventh in the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports. Wallace posted the fastest lap in Saturday’s final Cup practice.
Hey @BubbaWallace! Wishing you the absolute best today in your race. Smash it!! 🙌🏽 🏁
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) February 18, 2018
Hamilton has expressed an interest in NASCAR. He attended the 2015 season finale in Miami to watch Jeff Gordon race for the championship.
Hamilton said last year that he would like to try NASCAR and expressed an interest in competing in the Daytona 500.