DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: While being no stranger to the Daytona International Speedway, IndyCar regular Conor Daly has never attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500.
This week though, that will change as Daly will attempt to make “The Great American Race” with The Money Team (TMT) owned by boxing Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather
Recalling his teenage years as well as being a competitive driver in the Sports Car scene during the annular ROLEX 24 Hours of Daytona, the Noblesville, Ind. native has yet to figure out how he feel about his attempt to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series most prestigious race, the DAYTONA 500.
“I don’t know what to expect yet, but it’s just super cool to be here,” said Daly Wednesday during Daytona 500 Media Day. “I’ve done the Rolex twice, I raced go-karts here when I was 12, 13, 14, so I’ve spent a lot of time here growing up and I’m just excited for the chance.”
Recently joining the NASCAR scene in an era that has featured limited practice, the driver of the No. 50 BITNILE.com Chevrolet had had little track time before thrown into the pack of hungry competitors ranging from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to his Cup debut at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL last fall.
This week for the DAYTONA 500, however, the first laps on the track will be for qualifying. Daly can lock his team into the field by producing one of the two fastest laps Wednesday night by a non-chartered team.
“It sucks, honestly,” he said. “Practice sounds great but honestly all of my NASCAR stuff – actually all of it – both my truck races, the Cup race (did not), the Xfinity race I did have practice and qualifying and that went well.
“But there’s been no practice for the ROVAL for me; there’s been six laps before it broke and the truck races there’s been no practice either. I guess I’m kind of used to it in the NASCAR realm, but I will always take practice.”
Laying it all on the line to secure his second NASCAR Cup Series start, Daly is hoping for the best, but realizes a massive challenge could await his TMT team.
“The qualifying will be very much about feeling the platform of the car into one for the first time, into three for the first time, obviously running high to generate momentum and low obviously for the qualifying runs,” Daly added.
“So, kind of feeling just how the track is and after the checkered flag continuing to drive hard all the way around to the pits so you get an extra half lap of practice. Anything will help, anything will matter.”
Feeling positive about the overall cross pollination of NASCAR and his full-time ride in the NTT Indy Car Series, Daly believes that drivers and sponsorship drive motorsports in general.
“There’s a lot of business that goes into motorsport,” he explained. “BitNile.com has been a huge supporter of mine and they love motorsport, and what racing is doing in general. I think everyone is seeing how big motorsport is right now, whether it’s NASCAR or INDYCAR or F1, everything seems to be all tides raising all ships.
“So, we’re using it and a lot of other companies are using this sport to do great things. This was an opportunity that was presented to me, and it was debatable for a little while. You never know if you’ll get another shot at it so why not?”
No matter what happens during Daytona Speedweek, Daly is looking at his NASCAR endeavor with a positive approach and mindset backed by a massive support system.
Daly is hopeful of competing in up to seven races on the 2023 NASCAR Cup schedule. Following Daytona, he’ll return at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 26.
“I never do anything one and done,” Daly explained. “I’d love to do more, as much as I can, but obviously you never know when those opportunities come about.
“My goal would be to learn a lot this race and learn a lot in the Dual to use in the race we get to do on Sunday top then hopefully come back next year and feel way better.
“Who knows? I can’t tell the future, but I’ll do anything anytime, anyplace.”
Follow Grace Krenrich on Twitter @grace3140 or email [email protected].
