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Kamui Kobayashi sets sights on NASCAR oval debut: ‘I want to do it, of course’

Virgilio Machado by Virgilio Machado
January 25, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Kamui Kobayashi sets sights on NASCAR oval debut: ‘I want to do it, of course’

Aug 12, 2023; Speedway, Indiana, USA; Kamui Kobayashi stands by his car in the pits before practice and qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Kamui Kobayashi, the iconic Japanese racer and motorsports trailblazer, has opened up about his ambitions for 2025, revealing his aspirations to conquer yet another motorsports discipline: NASCAR oval racing. With a career spanning Formula One, World Endurance Championship (WEC), Le Mans, Super Formula, and more, Kobayashi has proven himself as a versatile and accomplished driver. Now, he’s itching to take on the uniquely American challenge of NASCAR’s high-speed ovals.


Kobayashi eyes NASCAR oval debut

After making waves in his NASCAR debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2023 with 23XI Racing, Kobayashi’s dream of competing on an oval remains unfulfilled. During the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona race week, where he competed for Wayne Taylor Racing, the Japanese driver shared his continued interest in returning to NASCAR.

“I want to race an oval race at one point,” Kobayashi said, expressing his eagerness to tackle one of the most distinctive formats in motorsports. Despite his enthusiasm, the veteran racer admitted that fitting NASCAR into his already packed schedule for 2025 would be challenging.


A packed calendar, but the door remains open

Kobayashi is committed to his primary focus—the WEC championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing. However, he emphasized that he hasn’t ruled out another NASCAR appearance if the opportunity arises.

“We’ve been getting more projects around, and I think if I have the opportunity, I want to do it, of course,” he stated. “This year’s project so far, we’re going to be quite busy more than last year, so I think it’s going to be challenging to achieve this in this year. But if in the future… if I have an opportunity, I would do it.”


Reflecting on his NASCAR debut

Kobayashi’s previous forays into NASCAR have been a mixed bag. His debut at Indianapolis in 2023 generated significant buzz, owing to his deep ties with Toyota through his years of excellence at Toyota Gazoo Racing. However, his first two Cup Series starts—at Indianapolis and Circuit of the Americas in 2024—failed to deliver the results fans had hoped for, despite the immense hype surrounding his participation.

Still, Kobayashi sees NASCAR as an exciting challenge. His experience in stock car racing has only fueled his desire to tackle its most demanding aspect: oval racing.


The future: NASCAR’s ovals on Kobayashi’s radar

While his 2025 schedule may leave little room for a NASCAR oval debut, Kobayashi’s long-term vision remains clear. His commitment to exploring new challenges and mastering different racing disciplines has been a hallmark of his career. If the opportunity arises, NASCAR fans could witness the Japanese legend take on ovals—a bold move that would further cement his reputation as one of motorsport’s most versatile and fearless drivers.

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