Yet another blockbuster crossover is on the horizon! Former 24 Hours of Daytona winner Raphael Matos will be participating in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International. The 42-year-old racing driver has a wealth of experience, having competed in the IndyCar Series, American Le Mans, and Atlantic Championship in his career, and the Brazilian will now get to add an appearance in NASCAR to his illustrious CV.

Matos, who took to social media to announce his participation in the race, resulted in a frenzy of excited reactions from fans. The motorsports veteran will be driving the No. 87 car while representing the Navy Seals Foundation at ‘The Glen’.

Raphael Matos set to take on a new adventure

Raphael Matos has been through it all in his long but illustrious motorsport career. The Brazilian began his career by competing in Skip Barber Formula Dodge, going on to win the championship in 2003. Since then, he has won the Atlantic Championship while driving for Sierra Sierra Enterprises, as well as the Indy Lights the following year in 2008. Matos has also been involved in controversy after he failed a dr-g test at the end of 2015, resulting in a two-year suspension. However, that didn’t stop him from returning to racing in the Trans-Am Series, where he won the championship twice.

Matos broke the news about his Xfinity Series appearance on Instagram, where he wrote, “I proudly announce that I will be racing in the Nascar Xfinity series at Watkins Glen. A goal that I had been thinking about for some time and now I had this great opportunity through the Peterson Racing team/ 3 Dimensional Services Group. Extremely honored to represent the Navy Seals Foundation, who fight for our freedom day and night. Very happy with the opportunity and looking forward to deliver a great result for the whole team. Bring it on!!”

The Brazilian’s participation in NASCAR is coming at just the right time, as Mission 200 at the Glen will be the penultimate race of the Xfinity Series’ regular season. The stakes will be higher than ever and Raphael Matos will get the opportunity to go wheel-to-wheel against drivers in unfamiliar territory. Going by his history, the 42-year-old will be looking to get a result at Watkins Glen International instead of simply making an appearance, and if his racing pedigree is anything to go by, the veteran will be a force to reckon with.

Fans are always excited to see racing legends from different disciplines competing in NASCAR. Over the years, several Formula 1 drivers such as Kimi Räikkönen, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Jenson Button have tried their hand at stock car racing, while IndyCar Series driver Josef Newgarden has also expressed his desire to compete in a Cup Series race. For many drivers, even a one-off seat in NASCAR is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Raphael Matos is no different. His participation in the Xfinity Series led to exhilarated reactions on social media, with fans beyond ecstatic to see the Brazilian in action.

Excited fans count the days until Matos’ NASCAR appearance

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As expected, fans couldn’t hide their joy when Raphael Matos announced his Xfinity Series appearance on Instagram. The 42-year-old can be considered a veteran in the motorsports community, yet the opportunity never came for him to compete in NASCAR until now. On that note, one fan wrote on Instagram, “Long overdue!”, highlighting that he should have competed in the competition a lot earlier. Another fan enthusiastically celebrated the news, and wrote on social media, “YES!!!!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!”

Despite two races remaining at Darlington and Atlanta Motor Speedway before Raphael Matos makes his Xfinity Series appearance at ‘The Glen’, a NASCAR fan expressed his anticipation of seeing the veteran driver in action. The fan wrote, “Very cool, I look forward to seeing this!” Echoing that sentiment, another fan went on to congratulate the Brazilian, while expressing his excitement for the opportunity by saying, “Congratulations friend we’re so excited for you!”

A fan couldn’t believe the news that was shared by Raphael Matos but expressed his happiness and well-wishes for the Belo Horizonte native. Writing on Instagram, the fan said, “What? This is such cool news! Congratulations & good luck!” With just weeks to go until the Brazilian finally makes his Xfinity Series appearance, NASCAR fans have a lot to look forward to in what looks like an action-packed September across the three national series.

What are your thoughts about Raphael Matos’ Xfinity Series appearance? Let us know in the comments!