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Daniel Ricciardo is leaving the door open to a possible future in NASCAR, as he faces uncertainty in his Formula 1 career. The 35-year-old Australian driver, currently with the Italian-based Racing Bulls S.p.A. team, has expressed interest in NASCAR, especially after his time in F1 ends. Ricciardo, known for his competitive spirit, has hinted that he would love to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR car and experience racing at Daytona International Speedway.
Though his current focus remains on Formula 1, Ricciardo’s future is somewhat unclear. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, is set to continue racing the No. 22 RB car into 2025, but Ricciardo’s plans are less certain. Currently ranked 14th in the drivers’ standings, Ricciardo has scored 12 points across the last 17 races. His best result this season came at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished eighth. While still competing in F1, Ricciardo is beginning to consider other racing opportunities, particularly in NASCAR.
In a recent interview with Racing America’s Joseph Srigley, Ricciardo opened up about his desire to explore new racing experiences once he leaves Formula 1. “There are things I’d like to try out,” Ricciardo said. “I grew up watching NASCAR and I’d love to drive a NASCAR car. Racing around Daytona, for example, would be incredible.”
Ricciardo’s comments have sparked curiosity about his potential involvement with Trackhouse Racing, a team in the NASCAR Cup Series. Trackhouse Racing started an initiative called PROJECT91 in 2022, with the aim of bringing international drivers into NASCAR. One of the high-profile drivers to participate in the project was retired F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, who took part in a race driving Trackhouse’s No. 91 Chevrolet. Ricciardo is reportedly aware of this initiative and had even attracted interest from Trackhouse Racing at the time. However, his commitment to Formula 1 meant that he wasn’t ready to make the switch back then.
According to motorsport journalist Adam Stern, Trackhouse Racing’s unique project piqued Ricciardo’s interest. However, Ricciardo was more focused on growing his clothing brand, Enchanté, in the U.S. during that time. While he wasn’t immediately considering a one-off appearance in NASCAR, there remains the possibility that Ricciardo could eventually compete in the series if the timing is right.
Ricciardo acknowledged that while he would be excited to compete in NASCAR, he’s also aware of the challenges. “Would I want to compete? Yes and no,” Ricciardo explained in his interview with Racing America. “It’s not what I grew up doing, so I’d probably get smoked out there, but I’d still love to give it a shot just for the experience.”
In addition to NASCAR, Ricciardo has also expressed interest in other motorsport events, particularly the Bathurst 1000, a famed endurance race held in Australia. The race, which features V8 Supercars, has captured Ricciardo’s attention, and he has shown interest in possibly participating. “It’s the V8s that do Bathurst, and maybe I could compete in one of the races,” he said. “If a V8 team offered me a chance to drive a few laps around Bathurst, with no pressure, just for the experience, I’d definitely be interested.”
For now, fans can only speculate on whether Ricciardo will take the plunge into NASCAR, especially as he navigates the uncertainties of his Formula 1 career. The Trackhouse Racing team’s initiative, which has already attracted notable names like Raikkonen and three-time Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen, could be a perfect fit for Ricciardo if he chooses to explore NASCAR. However, only time will tell if and when Ricciardo will make his mark in the world of stock car racing.