IndyCar driver James Davison had planned on making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, but he was informed on Thursday by the sanctioning body that without practice or qualifying for the event, he would not be approved to run in the 188-lap race.
Spire Motorsports, the team that Davison was to drive for has named NASCAR veteran BJ McLeod as the driver of its No. 77 OilFire Rye Whiskey Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.
While not approved for Talladega, the Australian will make his debut next weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway running both Cup races.
“I have been contacted by NASCAR and informed that although I was previously approved to race, they had to reconsider their position on Superspeedways, given there won’t be practice or qualifying prior to Sunday’s race at Talladega,” explained Davison.
“I was pumped about the opportunity to take the green flag, but I fully understand and appreciate NASCAR’s position. I’m approved to race next weekend at Pocono and equally thrilled to make my series debut there.”
While he does not have any oval experience, the 33-year-old does have four prior starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on road courses driving for DGM Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, respectively.
He earned a career-best fourth at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2017 for Gibbs, while delivering an eighth-place finish in his most recent NASCAR race at Road America (Wisc.) in 2018 after starting third.
Davison is a five-time Indianapolis 500 starter with a best finish of 12th in 2019.
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