The NASCAR playoff battle is incredibly tight, with six to seven drivers vying for a spot and only five races left to play. Each competitor is determined to perform at their best in the upcoming four races, aiming to accumulate as many points as possible or even secure a victory if they can. Amidst this intense playoff race, the Indianapolis Race will feature several new entries, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the competition. Among these new additions, Australian star Brodie Kostecki will take the wheel of Richard Childress Racing‘s #33 car, while SVG makes a comeback under ‘Project 91.’ Another notable entry will be in 23XI Racing, a Michael Jordan-owned team with the Japanese driver and Le Mans winner, Kamui Kobayashi.

With these new contenders in the mix, the battle for playoff spots becomes even more intense and unpredictable, making each race a must-watch for NASCAR fans.

Kamui Kobayashi reached Michael Jordan’s hometown

Last month, there was a significant announcement from Michael Jordan’s team, revealing the collaboration with World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver Kobayashi. The Japanese driver considers the opportunity so prestigious, as Kobayashi will be the first to represent Toyota in the Cup Series.

Kobayashi expressed his excitement about NASCAR, stating to Forbes, “NASCAR is something different in the culture of motorsports compared to Japan and Europe – as a driver, it’s the American dream”

Kobayashi raved about several series around the world. He started as a Toyota driver in Japan, and then he moved on to Europe. Here, he raced in Formula 1 between 2009 and 2014. Then he moved to Formula E, and he currently races in the IMSA series. The anticipation is all up to see how the Le Mans champion shows his talent at NASCAR.

Well, there are just two weekends left for the action in Indianapolis, which is the hometown of Basketball legend and team owner Michael Jordan. However, Kobayashi is all set and has reached the 23XI. The team shared a video on Instagram featuring Kobayashi with the team in the garage as well as with Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.

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How will MJ’s team respond to the new driver amidst Bubba Wallace’s tight chances for the playoff?

The 23XI team has been facing performance struggles in some of the previous races, and this has been particularly crucial for Bubba Wallace, who needs valuable points to secure a spot on the playoff list. Unfortunately, Bubba’s recent performances at the COTA and Sonoma Road courses were not up to par, with finishes of 37th and 17th, respectively.

So, another road course Indianapolis will play a crucial role in his hard battle, but will the new entry of Kobayashi interrupt the performance of Bubba Wallace? Only time will tell how this new addition affects the team.

The 23XI Team President Steve Lauletta expressed excitement about the new entry and said, “We are thrilled to support Kamui in his first NASCAR Cup Series start as we field another competitive Toyota for the race in Indianapolis”

Well, Supercar driver Shane Van Gisbergen showed how the Street Race can be won and showcased his right Foot strategy to facilitate NASCAR drivers to learn something new. The team president expressed the same to learn from another accomplished foreign driver.

Lauletta said, “This race will also serve as a great opportunity for our team to compete with and learn from a highly accomplished driver. Earlier in the season the No. 67 team did a great job preparing and executing at the Daytona 500 and we look forward to the same with Kamui. We are also excited to introduce Kamui’s many international fans to 23XI and our sport.”

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