Kimi Raikkonen expected to race in Nationwide Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway – NASCAR news
Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen is expected to race in next week’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway after scoring a 15th place in the Camping World Truck Series held on Friday.
Busch’s statement on Friday did not reveal whether he will field a car for Raikkonen in the Nationwide Series or not. Presently, Kyle Busch has been working on a deal to get Raikkonen aboard a Toyota at the Nationwide race on May 28, 2011. In fact, the car
is already in the garage of Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Busch stated that he does not own the car yet after winning the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Camping World Truck Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch only revealed that it was a Toyota and the ownership will be revealed next weekend
In a post-race press meeting, Raikkonen stated that he was expecting to drive at the Nationwide race at Charlotte, but Busch was not sure and left it on circumstances.
Busch said, “We don't have a Nationwide Series license [at Kyle Busch Motorsports], and our crew guys aren't licensed for the Nationwide Series or anything. It would have to be with somebody else.”
The whole story could not be kept hidden for long and the fans can expect to see the newcomer in NASCAR driving in next week’s Nationwide Series.
After finishing 15th in the CWTS race, Raikkonen was asked whether he will participate in next week’s John Deere Dealers 250. However, he decided to keep quiet on it and did not disclose any information.
Raikkonen’s agent, General Manager of Kyle Busch Motorsports, Rick Ren was the one who put him in the CWTS race.
Busch recalled how the deal went through. His team told the price of the project that would cost them to put in the race and after some time, Raikkonen’s manager finalised the deal and agreed to pay the cost for the debut race of Kimi Raikkonen.
The first choice for Raikkonen was to debut at the Charlotte event, but Busch was already booked for that round and his team did not have a second truck to put on the track, which was asked by Raikkonen.
Kyle Busch added, “So we talked to Vision [Aviation], and asked if we could supply them a truck, and they could run the race for us.”
The Vision Aviation took the step to provide the second truck for Raikkonen’s debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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