NASCAR stars excited by Kimi Raikkonen’s Cup debut: ‘The best way to gain respect’

Chase Elliott is intrigued to watch Kimi Raikkonen this weekend, but the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion is as interested to hear the 2007 Formula One champ.

Raikkonen, a 21-time winner over a 20-year career in F1, will be trying to burnish his resume by wrestling a stock car around a road course in NASCAR’s premier series for the first time.

Elliott is hoping for another sort of positive reputational impact.

“NASCAR has a certain perception about it to the majority of the world, so anytime you have someone come immerse themselves in what it takes in the day-to-day aspect of it, the competition aspect of it, (it’s) the best way to gain appreciation,” Elliott said. “Coming to a race is a good way to do it, but to actually immerse someone who is a race car driver that can appreciate and understand the challenges of it. This is the best way for us to gain respect and appreciation. To invite and have guys from these other series across the world that have worldwide recognition and amongst our motorsport peers that overlook us.

“That’s the only way to grow is to try to get more eyes on the sport. When you have someone who is a world champion like Kimi come over, I’m really curious to see what he has to say. He might come over thinking it’s the biggest joke ever. Or he might come over here and do really good. Or he might come over and struggle. All those outcomes could potentially sway his opinion. But as a driver and fan of what we have going on here, I think it’s really cool that he’s coming.”

Raikkonen will be among the record-breaking contingent of foreign-born drivers in a Cup Series race.

An unprecedented seven countries (Mexico, Finland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Russia and the United States) will be