After debuting at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course last season, Kamui Kobayashi is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series for a second opportunity later on this month at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
The 37-year-old driver will partner with 23XI Racing for the second straight year, piloting the No. 50 Toyota Camry XSE, a third entry for the NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. 23XI Racing made the announcement with a social media graphic shared to X on Wednesday afternoon.
He’s back ?
Kamui Kobayashi rejoins 23XI Racing for his second career #NASCAR Cup Series start as he takes on COTA with teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. #teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/Ifkmss21wE
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) March 13, 2024
Mobil 1 will serve as the primary sponsorship partner of the entry of Kobayashi, a two-time World Driver Champion (WDC) in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Last season, Kobayashi made his series debut in the No. 67 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing.
The Amagasaki, Japan-native will look to improve upon a disappointing 33rd-place result in his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course last season, which came after a plethora of small issues throughout the afternoon and a lack of stoppages to bunch the field together.
Kobayashi is no stranger to working closely with Toyota, having spent the last eight seasons competing for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA WEC, collecting multiple championships and a victory in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Racing in the United States, Kobayashi is a two-time victor (2019, 2020) of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, driving for Wayne Taylor Racing. In 2021 and 2022, the Japanese driver shared the No. 48 Cadillac with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, as well as Mike Rockenfeller.
A notable chunk of Kobayashi’s career – from 2009 to 2014 – was spent competing in Formula One, notching a single podium finish at Suzuka in 2012 driving for Sauber F1 Team, and scoring three points finishes of 12th place in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Notice of correction: 23XI Racing did not express which car number Kobayashi would pilot in the race at Circuit of the Americas. As a result, it was assumed the number would be the 67, which Kobayashi piloted for the team a season ago. The number will be 50, which falls in line with a marketing promotion for primary sponsor Mobil 1.
These corrections have been amended in the story above.
