How about this? There will be two former Formula One World Champions in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 26th as Jenson Button will pilot the No. 15 entry for Rick Ware Racing.
The announcement was officially made in the form of a press release on Thursday evening. Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press was the first to report on the 43-year-old’s NASCAR foray.
Button, the 2009 F1 champion, joins 2007 F1 champion Kimi Räikkönen in the field at COTA.
In addition to the race at COTA, Button will also drive the No. 15 Ware entry at the Chicago Street Course on July 2nd and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on August 13th.
The effort will be backed by Mobil 1, a long-time partner of Button.
“I won the world championship with Mobil 1, and 14 of my 15 wins in Formula One were with Mobil 1, as well as winning the Super GT championship with them. We’ve had a really close relationship over the years and I can’t think of a better partner,” Button said. “Mobil 1 has been a big part of making these NASCAR races happen for me, so I’m very thankful to them for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working alongside the brand to get the best out of every race weekend.”
Button’s Rick Ware Racing entry will be a collaborative effort with Stewart-Haas Racing. Mobil 1 is proud to be partnered with SHR, RWR and Button for the legendary driver’s NASCAR debut.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Jenson Button as he makes his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series and support him on his journey to making one of his racing dreams a reality,” said Rob Shearer, Director of Global Lubricants Marketing Services, on behalf of Mobil 1. “We’re driven by the love of driving and committed to helping more people get behind the wheel – wherever they may be. Through our partnership, we hope to continue to inspire and serve drivers everywhere – encouraging them to get more out of their drive and reconnect with the adventure of the open road.”
The British racer scored an incredible 15 Grand Prix victories over the span of a 306-race F1 career. In addition to his 2009 championship, Button finished runner-up in the standings in 2011 and third in the championship standings in 2004.
