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via Getty

via Getty

Trackhouse Racing has revolutionized racing in NASCAR. The Justin Marks-owned outfit has led the way by providing a platform for drivers from different motorsports to race in the Cup Series. The team’s initiative, Project91, has been instrumental in that aspect, and among the drivers to run in the No.91 Chevrolet, Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen can be counted among the most popular.

The Iceman has represented Trackhouse Racing in two races, and his most recent outing in NASCAR was at the Circuit of the Americas race earlier in March. Kimi Raikkonen had also donned a Trackhouse jumpsuit in 2022 at Watkins Glen International and received much love from the American crowds. As the year ends, Trackhouse Racing has shown gratitude to the Finnish driver for his presence in 2023. Owing to this token of appreciation, NASCAR fans have demanded that Kimi should return to race in the Cup in 2024.

Trackhouse Racing honored to have Kimi Raikkonen

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The Project91 car has had some iconic moments in the recent past. The initiative’s success began with Kimi Raikkonen’s NASCAR debut at Watkins Glen and has extended to three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen’s historic win at the inaugural Chicago Street Race. In 2023, Raikkonen returned for a taste of NASCAR action, and Trackhouse Racing scheduled it for a track he is fond of, Circuit of the Americas.

Coicidentally, COTA is the track where Kimi Raikkonen won his final race in Formula 1. While the victory came five years ago, the Iceman has had some fond memories at the track.

The Trackhouse Racing official Twitter handle thanked Kimi for racing with the team at COTA, writing, “An honor to have this legend race for us again in 2023.”

As Kimi Raikkonen raced in the Onx Homes / iLOQ No.91 Chevrolet Camaro, his outing was marred by a multi-car crash at COTA. Raikkonen showed his tactical acumen in the race as he made a gamble during a late caution and stayed in the pit lane to advance on the grid. Eventually, he ended up finishing 29th. However, Raikkonen wasn’t the only former Formula 1 driver in the race either. 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button also debuted in NASCAR that day and ended up 18th.

That being said, watching Kimi Raikkonen in the stock car racing circuit has been a great experience for the fans, which was pretty evident by the comments section being flooded with demands of Raikkonen’s return in 2024.

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NASCAR fandom hoping for a glimpse of Raikkonen in 2024

The 2007 Formula 1 champion has always managed to charm fans through his racing and straightforward press conferences. As he graced the NASCAR race tracks, American racing fans have also showered their love on Kimi Raikkonen. Hoping for his return in the coming year, one of the fans wrote, “Hope he returns again sometime in 2024 or 2025.”

Suggesting rectifications in the COTA race track, another fan opined that Kimi would probably have a much better outing at the venue in 2024 and said, “One more time in 2024…. COTA can be a much better race once they move the restart zone back.”

Another fan wondered if Trackhouse Racing could run two cars with two non-NASCAR champions in them, with Shane van Gisbergen joining Kimi at COTA. He wrote, “So you’re telling me Trackhouse is going to have SVG and the Iceman at COTA next year?”

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Please have him come back again in ’24,” commented another fan, requesting Trackhouse Racing to work towards Kimi’s return to NASCAR in the coming year.

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Kimi Raikkonen’s response to racing in NASCAR has been very positive. Taking his hectic schedule and inclination toward NASCAR races into account, Trackhouse Racing could work out one or two races to regain the racing legend.

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