World Endurance superstar Kamui Kobayashi is gearing up for his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and he is hopeful his appearance will help boost the sport’s popularity in his native Japan.
Speaking to NBC Sports, the 24 Hours of Le Mans winner said; “I’m here to experience NASCAR, but at the same time I want to expand NASCAR in Japan.
“I think there’s a big potential.”
Kobayashi is just one of six international drivers who will be competing in NASCAR’S race at the IMS Road Course on Sunday, with Aussie Supercars stars Shane van Gisbergen (who won his Cup Series debut in Chicago and Brodie Kostecki also taking part, along with Garage 56 Le Mans stars Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller.
Mexican Daniel Suarez completes the international contingent taking part this weekend, as NASCAR continues to make strives to boost its global reach.
A big part of NASCAR’s global push in its 75th anniversary year came at Le Mans with the aforementioned Garage 56 project.
Button, Rockenfeller and seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson competed in a modified Cup Car at the Centenary Le Mans enduro event and became a social media sensation in the process.
Kobayashi, whose Le Mans ended under the cover of darkness as a victim of a multi-car incident, witnessed the Garage 56 excitement first-hand and is looking forward to more of the same this weekend.
“NASCAR is something different because they have a big bumper and bump into each other,” he said.
He continued, telling NBC Sports that the close contact racing, “really makes excitement.”
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, whom Kobayashi will be racing for this weekend, is confident the Japanese driver will do well at Indianapolis.
“It’s going to be fun to watch him because I think he’s such a professional,” said Hamlin.
“What we’ve learned at 23XI is how in tuned he is with his craft and how good he is at what he does.
“He’s on another level for sure.”
Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race on the IMS Road Course commences at 14:30 Eastern Time.
