The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course will have an international flavor, as NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver Giorgio Maggi will attempt to make his series debut with MBM Motorsports, the series announced Aug. 5.
Maggi will drive the No. 42 Toyota alongside his Euro teammate Loris Hezemans, who will also compete for MBM, though the release did not specify which car Hezemans would drive.
Hezemans has already made two Xfinity starts this year for the team, at Phoenix Raceway and Pocono Raceway.
Maggi will become the first Swiss driver to attempt to make a national NASCAR series event.
“It’s still really hard to believe because it seems so surreal,” Maggi said in a release. “I first came into contact with NASCAR two years ago and honestly had no idea about this type of motorsport. Now I’m going to be right in the middle of it! I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m also a little nervous, I have to admit. I’m super excited to be the first Swiss to compete in a NASCAR national championship in the U.S.”
In 23 combined starts in the Whelen Euro Series, Maggi has three wins, nine podiums and a runner-up finish in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 2 point standings in 2019.
Maggi will have to qualify his way in on time for the event, which is one of the few remaining in 2021 that will feature practice and qualifying.
The Pennzoil 150 will take place on Saturday, August 14 at 4 p.m. ET, with TV coverage provided by NBC Sports Network.
About the author
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.
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