Toyota and 23XI Racing announced on Wednesday morning that famed Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and WEC (World Endurance Championship) team principal, Kamui Kobayashi will make his NASCAR debut in the No. 67 Toyota at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 13.

“NASCAR is something different in the culture of motorsports compared to Japan and Europe – as a driver, it’s the American dream,” said Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and WEC team principal. “I was lucky to be able to race in IMSA the last couple of years. It’s a different form of racing, but I think the racing technology is at a high level. I really appreciate this opportunity from TRD, U.S.A. and of course Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Gazoo Racing. Toyota has been racing in NASCAR for a long time, but I don’t think any other Japanese driver has raced a Toyota in the Cup Series.  I’m very proud of this opportunity.”

23XI Racing is following the path of Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 entry in bringing in Travis Pastrana for Daytona and now Kobayashi for Indianapolis. Pastrana finished 11th in the annual February season opener for Speedweeks.

Can Kobayashi have similar success?

Kobayashi started his racing career karting in Japan and after winning several titles, he won a scholarship to join Toyota’s Young Drivers program and made the transition into single seater race cars. This portion of his career also started in Japan and later into Europe, which led to being hired as Toyota’s Formula 1 driver. In 2008, Toyota signed Kobayashi as their third driver resulting in his debut during the 2009 season at the Brazilian GP. Kobayashi was active until 2014 in the highest level of racing in the world, Formula 1.

Following his Formula 1 career, Kobayashi returned to Japan where he switched to the Supra Formula Series, a class he still actively competes in today. Kobayashi also competed as part of the IMSA Series for the Lexus Racing program in 2022 at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park when he filled in for the injured Jack Hawksworth. Kobayashi is now a driver and team principal with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

He becomes the first Japanese driver to run in NASCAR’s premiere series since Hideo Fukuyama. He last did so in Sonoma in June 2003. However, that was in a Ford. This time, a Japanese driver will race a Toyota.

He’s not the first international star to give NASCAR a try though. Most recently, Kimi Raikkonen ran last year’s race in Watkins Glen as well as this past spring’s event in COTA. Three-time Supercars champion, Shane van Gisbergen will race the same car on the Chicago street course event next month.

Jenson Button also drove in COTA for Rick Ware Racing. Daniil Kvyat raced in Indianapolis, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte ROVAL last year for Team Hezeberg Racing.

Now, we get Kobayashi.