Ex-F1 Driver Daniil Kvyat To Field Team Hezberg's 2nd Cup Entry at Indy Road Course

By: Tom Luttermoser      Image Via: Team Hezeberg's Twitter

Team Hezeberg announced today that former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Russian Born Daniil has raced for many years in F1, and is a Formula 3 and Formula Renault Champion. 

This weekend will mark his first attempt in a full-size Stock Car and his first race since announcing his withdrawal from the LMP2 Class of the FIA World Endurance Championship on March 6th. He was scheduled to run the full season for G-Drive Racing only to withdraw just two weeks before the season opening race. He sighted the conditions of "sanctions and regulations" against Russian athletes put in place by the FIA following the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year calling them "unfair and discriminatory". From what I could find, he will be only the Second Russian born driver to ever enter into one of NASCAR's top-3 Series and the First to attempt a Cup Series Race.

He will be attempting to qualify the #26 Hezeberg Systems Toyota Camry marking the first time the number has been used since 2016 in the Cup Series. As will all Hezeberg cars, it will be prepared in the Reaume Brothers Racing shop. This will mark the 4th race entered by the Rookie race team and the first time they will attempt 2 cars. They so far have a best finish of 22nd at the season opener Daytona 500 with former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve behind the wheel.