Royal line-up for the Austin NASCAR round

Kimi Räikkönen was the first to announce his participation in this Texas round at the wheel of the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro 91. This race will mark the second participation at this level for the 1 F2007 world champion after his debut with PROJECT91 at Watkins Glen (New York) on August 21, 2022. Unlike the Watkins Glen track, Räikkönen knows COTA well, having raced there at eight times during his career in Formula 1. Iceman also scored the last of his 21 victories there on October 21, 2018 at the wheel of a Ferrari.

Kimi Räikkönen found his place in the peloton NASCAR © Nascar

Titled in the premier category in 2009, Jenson Button will drive the No. 15 Ford Mustang entered by Rick Ware Racing. Its three-race schedule also includes the Chicago city event and the Indianapolis road round. It was set up by Mobil 1 and Stewart-Haas Racing, official Ford team in Nascar of which Rick Ware Racing is a satellite entity. 

Jenson Button has it all to discover © Hendrick Motorsports

Button will benefit from the experience acquired during numerous test sessions at the wheel of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Garage 56 and from the valuable advice of his luxury coach Jordan Taylor. The latter will also be there at COTA since he was chosen by Hendrick Motorsports to replace 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, who injured his leg in a snowboarding accident two weeks ago.

Conor Daly, the son of former Formula 1 driver Derek Daly, will start at the wheel of a Chevrolet for TMT Racing, Floyd Mayweather's team. The pilot Indycar increases its participation in the Cup Series, certainly with a view to a more extensive future program. 

Conor Daly gains experience

Jimmie Johnson will finally be there as well. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion joined the team founded by “King” Richard Petty this year as a co-owner/part-time driver. After the Daytona 500 at the start of the season, he will therefore participate at least this year in this Texas round, in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the calendar with its 965,4 km which he has already won four times and the Chicago city race.

Jimmie Johnson checks the COTA box © NASCAR

List of entries for the Echopark Automotive Grand Prix in Austin