SPEEDWAY, Indianapolis – History will soon be made for NASCAR NEXT driver Alon Day.
The Ahhdod, Israel native will attempt to make his XFINITY Series debut for Carl Long’s MBM Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 13 for the Mid-Ohio 200. He’ll go for a second spout two weeks later at Road America (Wisc.) in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
“I’m so glad and excited to finally announce that I will be driving in the NASCAR XFINITY Series,” Day said in a press release. “I am super thankful for this opportunity.”
Day was one of 11 drivers selected to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class and is the first competitor chosen from NASCAR’s Whelen Euro Series.
NASCAR Next, an evolution of the Next9 initiative that began in 2011, is an all-embracing industry initiative to help spotlight the sport’s rising stars – and boost fan recognition around talent that will grow into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series mainstays.
Day who now resides in Tel Aviv began his motorsports career at the age of nine. Starting in Go Karts, he quickly became Israel’s National Champion. In 2009, he was Champion of the Formula Renault Asian-Israeli Sportsman of the Year.
The 24-year old continued to race in open wheel race cars through 2014, including six races in 2012 as the first Israeli driver competing in the Indy Lights Series in the United States. The Indy Lights Series is NASCAR’s version of XFINITY to Sprint Cup.
Day has two wins and four top-five finishes chasing the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship this season. Last season, he earned Rookie of the Year honors en route to a second-place finish in the standings mounting two poles, three wins, five top-fives and nine top-10 runs.
Owned by XFINITY Series competitor Long, MBM Motorsports fields two full-time XFINITY Series cars this season with a variety of drivers.
A spokesperson for Day told CATCHFENCE.com that they are still actively searching for sponsorship for both races.
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