It’s always an exciting time when a Formula 1 driver expresses his interest in NASCAR. Over the years, plenty of racers have traveled to the United States to compete in the Cup Series, such as Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, and Kamui Kobayashi, to name a few. The interesting crossover attracts hordes of fans, as Formula 1 continues to grow in popularity in the country, thanks to the popular Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’.

With Daniel Ricciardo expressing his interest in driving at Daytona International Speedway, fans can’t help but be excited at the prospect of a high-profile Formula 1 driver competing against the likes of Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin.

Daniel Ricciardo hoping to make childhood NASCAR dream a reality

Daniel Ricciardo is quite a journeyman, isn’t he? The Australian has already raced for five different Formula 1 teams, winning eight races throughout his career. However, his 13-year-long career hangs in the balance after Red Bull Racing extended Sergio Perez’s contract by two years. What does this mean for Ricciardo’s future? Could it finally be time for the 35-year-old racing driver to close the curtains on his F1 career and perhaps shift his focus to the NASCAR Cup Series?

Ricciardo hasn’t ruled out the possibility that he could explore stock car racing in the future. In an interview with Tourism Western Australia, he said, “I grew up a fan of NASCAR, I’d love to drive a NASCAR [car]. I’d love to drive around Daytona [International Speedway] for example.” The former McLaren Racing driver went on to say, “Would I like to compete? Yes, and no. But I also know that it’s not what I grew up doing, and I would probably get smoked so like, I don’t know if I need that, but I would love to experience it.”

Recently, there has been a debate all over social media after Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson claimed that he was a better “all-around driver” than Max Verstappen. Fans from both sports argued on behalf of their idols about whether the statement was true, reigniting an age-old hostility between supporters of NASCAR and Formula 1. However, with Daniel Ricciardo expressing interest in competing at Daytona International Speedway, it will give fans from both sports something new to talk about, albeit about a less controversial topic.

It’s not the first time Daniel Ricciardo has been linked with a move to NASCAR. Back in 2022, Trackhouse Racing co-owners Justin Marks and American-Cuban rapper Pitbull were interested in featuring the Australian racing driver for their PROJECT91 entry. However, Ricciardo declined the offer at that time, choosing to focus on cementing his future in Formula 1 instead. As a result, the NASCAR team opted to feature 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished 37th at Watkins Glen International.

Daytona isn’t the only race Ricciardo is hoping to participate in

If Daniel Ricciardo chooses to shift his attention from Formula 1, the Australian has plenty of avenues to explore in the racing world. He has already expressed his interest in driving at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the 35-year-old is also keen to experience the Bathurst 1000, which is part of the Supercars Championship. Known as ‘The Great Race’, the 1,000-kilometre event is held every year on the Mount Panorama Circuit.

Always one to take on new adventures, Daniel Ricciardo expressed his excitement at the prospect of competing in the Bathurst 1000 by saying, “It’s the V8 that does the race there. But you know there’s the 12-hour and stuff, so maybe that’s one I could compete in. If a V8 team said ‘Hey, do you want to do a few laps around Bathurst, no pressure, just to experience it’, then I’ll definitely take that up.”

While Ricciardo has set no official ‘retirement’ date yet, he isn’t contractually bound to any Formula 1 team for the 2025 season as things stand. This means that the possibility of seeing him in a Cup Series car could take place sooner rather than later, a prospect that will undoubtedly excite NASCAR fans. Do you think the Australian racing driver will choose to compete in a one-off event or consider taking up a full-time role in NASCAR’s highest tier? Let us know in the comments!