2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson declared that he is a better “all-around driver” than reigning three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen.

Larson is often regarded as the most talented racing driver on American soil and has won 27 NASCAR Cup Series races and one Cup Series Championship, but has accolades and experience in multiple disciplines.

In 2024, Larson made his debut at the Indy 500, competing in the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same weekend after finishing 18th in IndyCar’s blue-riband event.

Larson also won the 2015 Daytona 24 Hours and is adept at gravel Sprint racing, recently winning his third Knoxville Nationals title.

After his most recent success at the Knoxville Nationals, Larson, when asked by FloRacing if he was a better driver than Verstappen said “I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver.

“There’s no way Verstappen can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals.

“There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.

“There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot doing what he does than him doing what I do just because of the car element.

“That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him. 

“Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that.”

Verstappen is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, an impressive accolade to hold within the series considered the pinnacle of motorsport.

The Dutchman is the series youngest-ever race winner at 18 years, seven months and 15 days and holds the record for the most wins in a single season (19).

His career to date has been dominated by single-seaters, but he has taken his hand to other disciplines via sim-racing, winning this year’s iRacing Daytona 24 Hours event.

A comparison between Verstappen and Larson on equal terms would be fascinating and the reigning F1 World Champion wouldn’t be the first Grand Prix driver to compete in the same NASCAR Cup Series event as the No.5 Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Kimi Raikkonen, Kamui Kobayashi and Jenson Button have all taken to Cup Series action over the last few years, making a Verstappen appearance not out of the question.

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If you’ve watched ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’ on Netflix and are now hooked on stock car racing, but live on the wrong side of the Atlantic to enjoy the Cup Series live, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) will solve your problems.

The NASCAR Cup Series has long been the most-watched motorsport in the United States of America, but its reach hasn’t fully transcended internationally. That interest is starting to grow, buoyed by the impressive Garage 56 NASCAR entry in last year’s centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans and a horde of international superstars who have made special appearances in cup series races. Formula 1 Champions Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have multiple NASCAR race appearances under their belts and FIA WEC title winner Kamui Kobayashi has also had a go. Remarkably, Aussie V8 Supercars legend Shane van Gisbergen won on his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Chicago Street Race last year, bringing further attention to the USA’s favourite motorsport.

The entertaining, insightful and character-driven ‘Full Speed’ docuseries, charting the 2023 Cup Series playoffs over five episodes is NASCAR’s latest step in broadening its international appeal. There’s no doubt it will attract new and existing fans alike, particularly those in Europe who may be green to the sport, but hooked in as there’s no denying there’s a passion, noise and heightened drama to the raucous V8 circus of stock car racing that is hard to avoid. However, getting across the Atlantic for European fans to watch NASCAR isn’t exactly easy, but EuroNASCAR can quench your stock car thirst.

“The Garage 56 project in 2023 and the new docuseries on Netflix clearly indicate that there is an ever-growing appetite for NASCAR content – and for pure, unfiltered racing – in Europe,” NWES President and CEO Jerome Galpin told Motorsport Week. “Full Speed will definitely further boost the interest towards EuroNASCAR and we expect plenty of new eyes turning towards us. We are hard at work on the plan to develop the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the next 5 to 10 years and the potential is huge. I think we are not even halfway to fully realize it, we want to make NWES the absolute best racing show in Europe.”

The European racing show that is EuroNASCAR was established in 2008 and it is the only officially sanctioned NASCAR series outside of the Americas. The 2024 season will be contested across seven venues with multiple races at each venue (excluding the Dutch oval circuit Raceway Venray) for both the Pro EuroNASCAR class and amateur EuroNASCAR 2 class. Both categories compete in V8 stock car monsters, with over 400 horsepower and in 2024, the machines have undergone a subtle evolution. Refinements to the cars for this year will see improved handling through modified front spindles and new three-point front brake calliper brackets and better-performing engines and drivers through new engine oil and cockpit cooling measures.

Drivers can also use the series as a platform to help launch a NASCAR career stateside. Gil Linster, a top talent in the Euro series is aiming to qualify for the ARCA Menards Daytona 200. The ARCA-sanctioned series is a proving ground for drivers looking to progress to NASCAR Xfinity, Trucks and Cup Series and the Daytona 200 race meet takes place at the World Centre of Racing on February 17, a day prior to the Cup Series marquee event, the Daytona 500.

The championship covers plenty of ground for European fans, with the opening round in Valencia, Spain and other visits seeing the series stop off at Vallelunga, Autodrom Most, Oschersleben and Zolder, but the highlight of the year is the American Speedfest round at Brands Hatch. Accompanied by a supporting cast of other American race vehicles from the ages, American Speedfest is a key date not only in the EuroNASCAR calendar but for the circuit itself. Scheduled in the summer month of June, American Speedfest typifies the party atmosphere that Euro NASCAR has become known for and draws one of the largest crowds in Brands Hatch’s year of events. 46,900 spectators turned up for the 2022 event and that figure grew to 50,500 for 2023 – the 10th running of American Speedfest.

Across the 2023 season, attendances averaged 25,000 per venue and not to be outdone by Brand Hatch, Zolder, host of the season finale set series records across digital media. The 2023 EuroNASCAR Finals in Belgium attracted over 1.75 million social impressions and 96,000 interactions – the largest numbers seen since the series was devised. On YouTube, where EuroNASCAR’s free-to-air race broadcasts give fans at home easy access, the Zolder Finals achieved 1.85 million minutes watched and 197,000 live-streaming views.

Galpin believes the successes of 2023 are just a taste of what is to come for EuroNASCAR in 2024 and the series’ President and CEO is keen to maintain upward momentum for the championship. “We always strive to improve at all levels and there will be plenty of new highlights in 2024 for EuroNASCAR,” Galpin said. “We will expand the calendar to seven events, bringing back NASCAR oval racing in Europe at Raceway Venray in the Netherlands. We will have expanded double-points playoffs involving the last two events of the season, there is a brand new evolution package for the EuroNASCAR car and there will also be some new highlights on the competition side. Communication will also receive particular attention in 2024. We want more and more people to engage with the series and become EuroNASCAR fans.”

EuroNASCAR’s free-to-air broadcasting via YouTube is wrapped in the series’ ethos of putting fans first. The series is proud of its product, full of noise and motorsport theatre and it encourages the fans to connect with it. That’s why a ticket will get you behind the scenes via pit and paddock access and the chance to soak up the pre-race atmosphere on grid walks. We are in an age where new fans are engaging with motorsport like never before, predominantly following elite series such as Formula 1 where social activity is high but access to actual events is ringfenced with high ticket prices and extra access resigned to VIPs only. Series like EuroNASCAR, like so many others on U.S shores, Great Britain and Europe are there to welcome fans with open arms.

“We are a people’s sport,” Galpin said. “We are arguably the only series in Europe providing a real racing show for the fans, focusing on pure racing and putting the spotlight on the driver. Our cars have no electronic aids, they are fun to drive and fun to watch. Our events across Europe are all American-themed festivals and we provide full access to the fans: they can meet the drivers at our parades and at the track, touch the cars, join us on the starting grid and really enjoy a weekend of family entertainment, feeling part of the show. For us it’s all about sharing our passion with the fans.”

The time is right for EuroNASCAR to grab fans’ attention in the wake of ‘Full Speed’ on Netflix and the 2024 action begins at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on April 13.

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On Sunday, Arrow McLaren took the wraps off the livery for Kyle Larson’s Indianapolis 500 attempt with the team next season.

The design was uncovered at an event held at the speedway itself, with fans present for the afternoon’s NASCAR race able to watch on.

The papaya and blue scheme brings in colors from McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, which are partnering together to make Larson’s attempt at ‘the double’ possible.

Larson will have the #17 on his IndyCar next May as opposed to his typical #5, as that number is taken by series regular (and team-mate for the day) Pato O’Ward.

“Kyle Larson is one of those rare drivers and champions that can race anything, so we’re super excited to have him in our race car,” said Zak Brown at the unveiling.

“He reminds me of drivers like Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti who could drive anything on wheels as fast as anyone. To have him join us for the Indy 500 is extremely exciting.”

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will be running Arrow McLaren’s fourth entry in the race on the same day he competes in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Competing in both races will require precise planning and a quick plane flight out of Indianapolis as soon as the Indy 500 is over, in addition to the physical and mental stamina on the part of Larson.

2014 was the last year that a driver attempted to run both races in the same year, when Kurt Busch drove cars for Andretti Autosport and Stewart-Haas Racing.

The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 are both scheduled to be run on May 26, 2024.

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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.

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2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button took on a new adventure last weekend, as he made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Button has dipped in and out of racing categories since he departed F1 at the end of the 2016 season.

For his NASCAR debut, which was spent with Rick Ware Racing, Button returned to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas – a track that is familiar to him through his F1 career.

William Byron took pole for the race, with Button setting a time that was good enough for 24th out of 39 drivers.

Button got in the mix straight away and made up two positions in the opening sectors, but dropped back to 26th by the time he completed his first tour of the track.

The race was filled with caution periods, but Button kept out of major trouble and avoided race-ending damage, despite being involved in the wards.

In the end, he took the chequered flag in 18th place.

However, a major factor in his race was temperature inside the car, admitting that he almost retired due to heat exhaustion.

“Finished 18th after almost stopping because I had heat exhaustion,” Button said.

“It was so hot, I don’t have a fan in my seat which really didn’t help me too much. It was so hot, I thought I was going to faint in the car. 

“So, I stopped twice for a minute. They put ice on me, gave me loads of water, and I went back out. I was so close to getting out of the car because I thought I was going to faint. 

“I must’ve drank eight [or] nine bottles of water during the race. The team kept me calm, and it’s the reason why we got a good result in the end. So, I was happy.”

Button also revealed that his car wasn’t feeling right after he made contact with former F1 rival Kimi Raikkonen, who made his first outing in the Cup Series after his 2022 debut.

Raikkonen finished the race in 29th.

“I also had a massive whack from Kimi, and it fell off after that,” Button said. “The car wasn’t quite right. Every time I turned in, the rear tyres would chatter, then immediately to oversteer. 

“It was really difficult, but towards the end, we made some good calls stopping and putting on fresh tires. I enjoyed the last three restarts – got good placement and good overtaking moves from the outside.”

Button will be back competing in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Chicago Street Course event on July 2.

The post How Button fared in his NASCAR Cup Series debut appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Ahead of his NASCAR debut, 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has identified stage points as something the pinnacle of motorsport could learn from the American stock car series.

Along with fellow F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, Button will race at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas in the cup series in two weeks, before taking part in two further events in Chicago and Indianapolis this summer.

The cup series points system sees points handed out in three stages of the race, and Button feels this is something F1 could explore.

READ MORE: Button to contest three NASCAR Cup rounds in 2023

“I think the great thing about F1 is they are very open to changes and tickling it here,” he said. “We have the sprint races, which I think work really well. Not everyone’s going to be happy when you change a sport that has been the same for so long. But I like that change.

“In NASCAR they have stage points through the race. That could make it interesting because it depends on when you pit for tyres.

“If you get points at certain points through the race, if it’s lap, 20 lap 40 and the end of the race, it might change strategies around. Who knows? I don’t know if it would work.”

The 43-year-old, who has also tried his hand in endurance racing, is happy with where F1 is but affirms that it needs to keep trying new things.

“I think F1 is in a great place, I enjoy the racing,” added Button. “The dream in F1 is that the cars are lighter, that’s always the dream, because I think as drivers, we like lightweight cars – he says, as he’s about to race a stock car!

“But I’m happy with where F1 is, as long as we’re ready to tickle things here and there if we think it’s necessary, and try it and not be afraid.”

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Jenson Button will make his NASCAR Cup debut in 2023 after signing up to contest three rounds this season.

Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, will debut on March 26 at the Circuit of the Americas before also running the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 2 and the Indianapolis Road Course on August 13.

Button will drive the No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang fielded by Rick Ware Racing with promotional and marketing support from Stewart-Haas Racing.

The NASCAR outings will be in conjunction to Button contesting this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours as part of the Garage 56 effort that is bringing a modified stock car to the French endurance event.

“The first time I jumped into the Garage 56 car, it was like, ‘What have I done? This is so different,’ and that lasted about four laps,” said Button.

“Then it was like, ‘Hang on, it’s still a racing car. It’s got four tyres that touch the road. It’s a mechanical race car, which is even better for learning.’ I’ve really enjoyed the challenge.

“A Cup car has a lot less downforce and is a lot heavier, but the Garage 56 car has given me an idea of what it will be like along with a direction, which is really useful.

“I know in my first race I’m not expected to be qualifying right at the front and I’m not expected to be fighting for a victory. I have a lot of respect for the drivers racing in the Cup Series. There’s so much talent there, whether it’s on ovals or road courses.

“Ten years ago, people used to say NASCAR guys can’t drive around a circuit, but I think they’ve proven that they can.

“Every time an ex-F1 driver gets in a stock car these days, they struggle initially. It takes a while for them to get up to speed, so I don’t expect to be right at the front, straight away.

“That’s why, for me, doing more than one race is really key so I can get the best out of myself and the best out of the car.”

Button will consequently be on the same grid as former F1 rival Kimi Räikkönen, who has also signed up for this month’s round at COTA.

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Kimi Räikkönen will return to NASCAR at this month’s round at US Grand Prix venue Circuit of the Americas.

Räikkönen retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season but made an appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen last August.

Per Räikkönen’s maiden run his outing at COTA will come with the PROJECT91 operation, which is run in conjunction with Trackhouse Racing.

Räikkönen participated in eight grands prix at COTA and claimed his last Formula 1 win at the track in 2018.

“I had a fantastic time in NASCAR,” said Räikkönen. “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.”

Räikkönen will race the No. 91 Onx/iLOQ Chevrolet Camaro and is not due to test the car until the event at COTA on March 26.

“When we announced Kimi last year I said he was the global superstar I had in mind when we created PROJECT91,” said Trackhouse Owner Justin Marks.

“I think you saw the fan reception across the world and Kimi’s performance in the car was proof of the concept. Kimi’s following is massive and it’s great for NASCAR, Trackhouse plus I think Kimi really enjoys our racing.”

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Arrow McLaren has announced that 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson will contest the Indianapolis 500 with the team in 2024.

The drive is expected to be in addition to his continued full time stock car participation, meaning the plan is for him to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 on the same day.

Commonly referred to as ‘The Double,’ only five drivers have attempted to run both races on the same day.  Competing for 1,100 competitive miles in two different cars at two different tracks across the country from one another is a daunting task to say the least.

Kurt Busch was the most recent driver to run The Double in 2014, finishing sixth at IMS driving for Andretti Autosport before racing for Stewart-Haas Racing a few hours later in Charlotte.

“I’m super excited,” related Larson in the announcement.  “Competing at the Indianapolis 500 is a dream of mine and something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time – since I was a child before I ever began competing in sprint cars. To do it with Arrow McLaren and Mr. Hendrick especially is a dream come true.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and am really looking forward to it even though it’s still about a year-and-a-half away.  I’m really looking forward to competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 and maybe even get a win or two that day.”

The IndyCar entry will be a new partnership and will be co-owned by Arrow McLaren and Rick Hendrick, who is the owner of Larson’s current NASCAR team.

It is the first time Hendrick will be involved with the Indy 500, although his teams have recorded a record 10 NASCAR victories at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in years past.

Larson has a wide-ranging racing resume, and often races on dirt as well as pavement.  At 30 years old, he has logged over 400 wins in all forms of racing.

“Adding Kyle Larson with a HendrickCars.com partnership to the Indy 500 lineup in 2024 is exciting for our Arrow McLaren team as well as for race fans,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

“He’s a complete driver, known for racing anything on wheels, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Kyle can do in an NTT IndyCar Series car.

“It’s been great working with Rick Hendrick and [Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman] Jeff Gordon to pull this together, so a big thank you to them for what’s to come in May 2024.”

The 2024 Indy 500 will be exactly 500 days after the announcement, bringing extra significance to the date.

Arrow McLaren’s plans for this year’s Indy 500 are unchanged, with Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alexander Rossi being joined by Tony Kanaan in a one-race deal.

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Kimi Raikkonen ventured into a new arena last weekend, as he made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing.

The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion has previous experience in NASCAR, but the other entries, which occurred over 10 years ago, took place in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.

His Cup Series debut came at Watkins Glen, a fan favourite of many drivers. 

Raikkonen was offered some practice laps in Virginia prior to the weekend, as he came to grips with the new-for-2022 Next Gen car.

The Finnish driver qualified in 27th place, nine places in front of fellow ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, who was making his second Cup Series start.

Raikkonen’s race was progressing well, and he was running inside the top 10 after the first stage before making a pit stop.

Unfortunately for Raikkonen, his race came to an end with a crash into the barriers as he was caught up in a multi-car incident midway through the event.

“I had a good line there but everybody seemed to come to the left, unfortunately,” Räikkonen told NBC Sports. 

“I had no time to react. The first impact, somebody hit the tyre or the wheel and the wheel spun and something’s wrong with the wrist, but that’s how it goes.” 

Darian Grubb, crew chief of Raikkonen’s No. 91 entry, hailed the 42-year-old for commitment to the weekend.

“It was amazing,” Grubb told Nascar.com. “He worked so hard trying to get ready for this. It’s really disappointing to end that way. 

“The way the strategy scenario was working, I think he was going to have a good chance to go race hard with guys. 

“He had good tyres and able to race his way up, he was able to make some passes and stuff already. And I think we had a good shot to be up in the top 10, which is what our goals were for the weekend.

“So disappointing end, but he did an amazing job all week preparing for it, coming in and ready to go.”

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