Toyota NASCAR Stars to Compete in IMSA Pilot Challenge Race at Daytona

Toyota Racing Trio Makes Debut in IMSA Pilot Challenge Race

Bubba Wallace, John-Hunter Nemechek, and Corey Heim, all drivers for Toyota Racing, will be making their debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season-opener at the Daytona Road Course later this month. This race precedes the famous 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

Wallace, known for his victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, will be driving for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. He had a strong performance in the Cup Series last year, finishing in tenth place in the overall standings.

Nemechek, who is returning to the Cup Series in 2024 with Legacy Motor Club, is switching from Chevrolet to Toyota for the new season. He had an impressive run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last year, winning seven races. Heim, a regular in the NASCAR Truck Series, made it to the Championship 4 in the previous season.

SMOOGE Racing Enters Two Cars for the Race

SMOOGE Racing will field two cars in the four-hour IMSA Pilot Challenge race. Wallace, Nemechek, and Heim will share the No. 23 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO, which will be sponsored by Mobil 1.

The team will also enter a second car, driven by John Geesbreght, Kevin Conway, and Corey Lewis. Team Principal Kevin Conway, the 2010 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Cup Series, expressed his excitement about the team's participation and the opportunity to race with Geesbreght and Lewis.

Ford's NASCAR Stars Competed in Previous Season-Opener

In 2022, Ford entered four of its rising NASCAR stars in the IMSA Pilot Challenge season-opener. Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Harrison Burton, and Hailie Deegan all represented Ford in the race.

Burton returned for the following year with Zane Smith as his co-driver, and the duo won the race overall in a PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4.