P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The many surprise driver cameos of the 2023 NASCAR Cup season
In the 2023 NASCAR season, the introduction of a new car and various innovative programs attracted several international racing stars to stock car racing. Drivers from different corners of the racing world made surprise appearances, including extreme sports athlete Travis Pastrana, who aimed to qualify for and compete in the Daytona 500 with 23XI Racing. Despite zero practice, Pastrana successfully qualified for the race and finished 11th in his first and only Cup Series start. Conor Daly, a veteran of over 100 IndyCar races, also made his Daytona 500 debut after facing numerous challenges and finished 29th. Additionally, Formula 1 champions Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button joined NASCAR for races at the Circuit of the Americas and Le Mans 24 Hours, respectively.
