The season opener for the ARCA Menards Series is closing in fast, and now we have another seat set to be filled as NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver Gil Linster is teaming up with Kimmel Racing for Daytona.
The 30-year-old will pilot the No. 68 Ford Mustang for the team at the superspeedway. Linster joined the team for the annual Daytona test on January 12th and 13th. He was able to earn his superspeedway license and find a partner to join him for the race at Daytona.
Opportunity of a lifetime: @GilLinster is going to race in the @ARCA_Racing Menards Series at @DAYTONA! ??
?????????? https://t.co/JurVOm6sIc#EuroNASCAR #NASCAR #NWES #ARCA #PureRacing
? @AndreWiegold | ? Gil Linster & @suomi1985 pic.twitter.com/lc8bhaReV1
— NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (@EuroNASCAR) January 23, 2024
“I’m really happy about this but I have no time to celebrate because there’s a lot of work coming in the next few weeks,” Linster said in an interview with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
“We have to develop the design of the car, my racing suit, and the helmet. We will sign the contracts and then I will pack my bag and travel to Daytona,” he added. He will still have the task of qualifying for the race.
Linster has been part of the Euro Series since 2017 but has some experience on the short tracks of America as well.
The Frisange, Luxembourg native took home his first career NASCAR Whelen Euro Series win last year with Hendriks Motorsports and came third in EuroNASCAR 2 standings.
Linster also plans to compete in the Whelen Euro Series in 2024 with his announcement on that coming soon. Their season is set to start on April 13-14 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain.
He won’t be the only overseas driver joining the ARCA Menards Series field at the high banks of Daytona as New Zealand’s Shane Van Gisbergen is also set to make his ARCA Menards Series debut with Pinnacle Racing in the No. 28 Chevy.
You can catch both drivers in the season-opening race for the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona on February 17th at 1:30 PM live on Fox Sports 1.
