Kimi Räikkönen, widely known as 'The Iceman,' is gearing up for his second NASCAR Cup Series race, set to take place at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on March 26. This race will see Räikkönen behind the wheel of the No. 91 Onx/iLOQ Chevrolet Camaro, competing for Trackhouse's PROJECT91.
The excitement surrounding Räikkönen's return was echoed by Trackhouse Entertainment Group, who made the announcement. "We are thrilled to have Kimi back on the track with us for this race," said Justin Marks, Owner and Founder of Trackhouse Racing. "When we announced Kimi last year, I said he was the global superstar I had in mind for PROJECT91. The fan reception worldwide and Kimi’s performance really proved our concept."
Räikkönen first dipped into NASCAR waters at Watkins Glen International last August, where he finished his debut with promising potential. "I had a fantastic time in NASCAR," Räikkönen stated. "There was a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, but everyone was very helpful, the competition was a big challenge. This time I get to race on a track I am familiar with so there won’t be as steep of a learning curve. I want to have fun, but also do as well as we can."
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The upcoming event represents an important chapter for Marks and the PROJECT91 initiative, created to attract accomplished international drivers to NASCAR. At COTA, Räikkönen will be joined by a seasoned track crew, led by Darian Grubb, who boasts 23 wins as a crew chief and a Cup Series championship with Tony Stewart in 2011.
Looking forward to the race, Räikkönen shared his thoughts about the opportunity for foreign drivers to engage in NASCAR. "I’m sure there are a lot of drivers that would like to have a chance to try NASCAR," he said. "It’s not very easy, so maybe it will open some doors in the future for more chances to try and get more Europeans into the sport."
Sponsoring Räikkönen's No. 91 Chevrolet At COTA will be Onx, a company noted for its innovative approach to homebuilding, and iLOQ, a Finnish trailblazer in smart mobile locking systems. Both companies have made a significant mark on the NASCAR scene, with Onx previously serving as the primary sponsor on other successful Trackhouse entries.
As the anticipation builds for March 26, Marks indicated that Räikkönen's entry could pave the way for more PROJECT91 races in 2023. However, no testing sessions are scheduled before the race. "Kimi will visit the shop in the days before the race, and we’re all looking forward to what he can accomplish this time out," he added.
When Räikkönen competed at Watkins Glen, he qualified 27th, but managed to race within the top-10 for most of the day until an unfortunate late-race incident cut his effort short. This experience, combined with preparation time at the Trackhouse shop, is expected to refine his performance as he approaches the COTA track.
The story of Kimi Räikkönen's foray into NASCAR represents not just a unique event for the racing world, but also an ongoing effort at Trackhouse Racing to bridge international motorsport with American stock car racing. As he steps back onto the track with a mix of familiarity and fresh determination, fans eagerly await what 'The Iceman' will bring to this unique racing crossroad.
