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Alon Day

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Alon Day
Day at Richmond Raceway in 2018
Nationality Israel
Born (1991-11-04) November 4, 1991 (age 33)
Ashdod, Israel
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series career
Debut season2015
Current teamPK Carsport
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number24
EngineChevrolet
Former teamsCAAL Racing
Starts95
Wins32
Poles37
Fastest laps33
Best finish1st in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022
Previous series
2013–2014
2012
2010–2011
2011
2011
2008–09
2008–09
2007		FIA GT Series
Firestone Indy Lights
German Formula Three
Austria Formula 3 Cup
Formula 3 Euro Series
Asian Formula Renault
Formula BMW Pacific
Hungarian E-2000
Championship titles
2017-18, 20
2009		NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
Asian Formula Renault
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight66 kg (146 lb)[1]
NASCAR Cup Series career
2 races run over 2 years
2018 position48th
Best finish44th (2017)
First race2017 Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Sonoma)
Last race2018 Federated Auto Parts 400 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
3 races run over 2 years
Car no., teamNo. 45 (Alpha Prime Racing)
2016 position109th
Best finish109th (2016)
First race2016 Mid-Ohio Challenge (Mid-Ohio)
Last race2024 Mission 200 at The Glen (Watkins Glen)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
2 races run over 1 year
2016 position62nd
Best finish62nd (2016)
First race2016 UNOH 175 (Loudon)
Last race2016 Ford EcoBoost 200 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 18, 2018.

Alon Day (Hebrew: אלון דאי, born November 4, 1991) is an Israeli professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing. Day is the first Israeli driver to compete in an IndyCar-sanctioned series, and is also the first Israeli to compete in one of NASCAR's top three touring series.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Day was born and grew up in Ashdod, Israel, and currently resides in Tel Aviv, Israel, and is Jewish.[3][4][5][6] His father, Avi Day, owns a geological-engineering company involved in mineral drilling, and his mother Maggi originally immigrated to Israel from France.[7][8] He began his racing career with go-karts at the age of 10.[9] For his bar mitzvah, his father gave him as a present a karting vehicle that cost NIS 20,000.[7]

After high school, he performed three years of military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[4] He was recognized by the IDF as an outstanding sportsman, the only Israeli in a Formula sport to be accorded that status.[7] He was accepted into the Israeli Air Force pilots' training course, but gave it up because of his career.[7] If he were not a racing car driver, he would want to be a fighter pilot.[4]

Racing career

[edit]

Day won the Asian Formula Renault Challenge championship in 2009, when he was 17 years old.[10][11] He then drove in the German Formula Three Championship in 2010, racing with the Performance Racing team. He finished ninth in points, with a best finish of fourth (twice).

He returned to the series in 2011 driving for HS Engineering. He improved to fourth in points and captured two podium finishes of third place. He also won the pole for the second race at Sachsenring. He made six starts in Formula 3 Euro Series (two race meets – Norisring and Silverstone Circuit) and drove in two races in Austria Formula 3 Cup, good enough for eighth in that championship.

In 2012 Day's career transitioned to North America, where he signed to drive in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Belardi Auto Racing. Day made six starts for the team before they amicably parted ways in June after qualifying at the Iowa Speedway.[12] He was sponsored by the Jewish Racing Drivers Association.[13]

In 2015, he made his NASCAR debut in the season opener at Valencia, posting a top-10 finish.[14] He attained his first NASCAR win at Magione in the semifinals.[14] At the Circuit Zolder Finals weekend, he won the Junior "Jerome Sarran" Trophy.[14] He also won the 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Most Popular Driver Award.[15]

In 2016 Day won his fourth career NASCAR race in the opening weekend in Valencia, won the second race of the season at Brands Hatch, and at Zolder he won the Junior Trophy classification.[14] He also won the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Most Popular Driver Award.[15]

Day in his Xfinity Series car at Road America in 2016.

Also in 2016, Day was named one of the 11 members of the 2016–17 NASCAR Next program, which recognizes young successful drivers from around the world who are seeking to improve.[16][9] Day was the first driver of NASCAR's European circuit (the Whelen Euro Series) to earn the honor.[9] In August, he joined MBM Motorsports for his Xfinity Series debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, making Day the first Israeli to compete in a major NASCAR touring series.[17] The effort was supported by Jewish Sarasota, Florida, environmental/waterfront property lawyer David Levin, who provided Day with $60,000 from his retirement account to fund the car.[18][19][6] After qualifying 22nd, Day capitalized on the rainy conditions to enter the top ten, where he ran for most of the race before finishing 13th.[20][21] Day returned at Road America, driving the No. 13 for MBM and finishing 30th[22] after he was forced off course late in the race. In September, Contreras Motorsports hired Day to make his Camping World Truck Series debut at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in which he finished 24th.[3][23]

Day made his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway in 2017

In January 2017, Day was recognized by Israel's Ministry Of Culture and Sport as Israel's Athlete Of The Year in the motorsports category.[24][19] On June 11, Day won the NASCAR Whelen Euro race in England on June 11 at Brands Hatch.[25] Later in June, Day joined BK Racing for his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sonoma Raceway's Toyota/Save Mart 350, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry.[26] After starting 32nd, he finished in the same position.[27] He became the first Israeli to compete in a Cup Series race.[28] In mid-October, following a fourth-place finish at the second final of the NASCAR Whelen Euro race at Circuit Zolder, he became the first Israeli driver to win a NASCAR championship, clinching the 2017 championship title after only completing just the first lap, finishing the final standings 53 points ahead of defending and two-time series champion Anthony Kumpen.[29]

On September 17, 2018, it was announced that Day would return to the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 23 Camry for BK Racing at Richmond.

In the 2019 season, Day started his season strongly after he won both races at Franciacorta and the first race at Brands Hatch.[30][31][32] However, he would retire from both races at Most after he collided with Jacques Villeneuve in the first race and was involved in a first corner incident in the second race. Another troublesome week at Hockenheim would follow, where Day received a post-race time penalty for colliding with Stienes Longin in the first race before retiring from the lead in the second race. Day would eventually finish the season in fourth place with 3 wins, 6 podium finishes, and 9 Top-10 finishes.

On October 4, 2020, Day won his first EuroNASCAR contest of the season at Zolder and also assumed the points lead.[33]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2008 Asian Formula Renault Challenge Asia Racing Team 2 0 0 1 0 0 NC†
2009 Asian Formula Renault Challenge March 3 Racing 6 4 2 3 5 293 1st
Top Speed Racing Team 8 2 2 4 8
Formula BMW Pacific Asia Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2010 German Formula 3 Championship Performance Racing 18 0 0 0 0 26 9th
2011 German Formula 3 Championship HS Technik Motorsport 18 0 1 2 2 62 4th
Formula 3 Euro Series Team HS-Engineering 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Austria Formula 3 Cup 2 2 0 0 2 40 8th
2012 Indy Lights Belardi Auto Racing 6 0 0 0 0 147 12th
2013 FIA GT Series HTP Gravity Charouz 12 1 0 1 5 80 5th
2014 ADAC GT Masters BKK Mobil Oil Racing Team Zakspeed 14 0 0 1 2 60 15th
Blancpain GT Sprint Series Zakspeed 2 0 0 0 0 1 28th
2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 12 3 4 3 4 627 2nd
2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 12 3 5 3 6 614 3rd
NASCAR Xfinity Series MBM Motorsports 1 0 0 N/A N/A 0† 109th
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Contreras Motorsports 1 0 0 N/A N/A 16 62nd
2017 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 12 4 5 4 8 661 1st
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series BK Racing 1 0 0 N/A N/A 5 44th
2018 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 12 7 6 3 9 512 1st
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series BK Racing 1 0 0 N/A N/A 1 48th
2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 13 3 2 2 6 473 4th
2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series PK Carsport 10 4 5 6 6 431 1st
2021 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series CAAL Racing 12 3 3 2 5 367 6th
2022 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series PK Carsport 10 5 5 5 7 425 1st
SpeedHouse 2 0 0 0 0

† Guest driver - Ineligible to score points.

Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 D.C. Points
2011 HS Engineering Volkswagen LEC
1 		LEC
2 		LEC
3 		HOC
1 		HOC
2 		HOC
3 		ZAN
1 		ZAN
2 		ZAN
3 		RBR
1 		RBR
2 		RBR
3 		NOR
1
8 		NOR
2
7 		NOR
3
12 		NÜR
1 		NÜR
2 		NÜR
3 		SIL
1
11 		SIL
2
Ret 		SIL
3
7 		VAL
1 		VAL
2 		VAL
3 		HOC
1 		HOC
2 		HOC
3 		NC† 0†

† As Day was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete Indy Lights results

[edit]
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2012 Belardi Auto Racing STP
12 		ALA
6 		LBH
11 		INDY
8 		DET
8 		MIL
7 		IOW
DNS 		TOR EDM TRO BAL FON 12th 147

Complete FIA GT Series results

[edit]
Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points
2013 HTP Gravity Charouz Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Pro NOG
QR
3 		NOG
CR
3 		ZOL
QR
7 		ZOL
CR
Ret 		ZAN
QR
2 		ZAN
CR
1 		SVK
QR
10 		SVK
CR
Ret 		NAV
QR
Ret 		NAV
CR
7 		BAK
QR
12 		BAK
CR
4 		5th 80

NASCAR

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series

[edit]
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 MENCC Pts Ref
2017 BK Racing 23 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON
32 		DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 44th 5 [34]
2018 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV KAN CLT POC MCH SON CHI DAY KEN NHA POC GLN MCH BRI DAR IND LVS RCH
38 		CLT DOV TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 48th 1 [35]

Xfinity Series

[edit]
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2016 MBM Motorsports 40 Dodge DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH
13 		BRI 109th 01 [36]
13 ROA
30 		DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM
2024 Alpha Prime Racing 45 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC
DNQ 		POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN
36 		BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 76th 1 [37]

Camping World Truck Series

[edit]
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCWTC Pts Ref
2016 Contreras Motorsports 71 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN DOV CLT TEX IOW GTW KEN ELD POC BRI MCH MSP CHI NHA
24 		LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM
26 		62nd 16 [38]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

Whelen Euro Series – EuroNASCAR PRO

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest lap. * – Most laps led. ^ – Most positions gained)

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series – EuroNASCAR PRO results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 NWES Pts Ref
2015 CAAL Racing 54 Chevy VAL
9 		VAL
19 		VEN
11 		VEN
9 		BRH
10 		BRH
3 		TOU
4 		TOU
8 		UMB
1** 		UMB
16 		ZOL
1** 		ZOL
1** 		2nd 627 [39]
2016 VAL
6 		VAL
1** 		VEN
16 		VEN
13 		BRH
3 		BRH
1** 		TOU
16 		TOU
4 		ADR
2 		ADR
1** 		ZOL
7 		ZOL
3 		3rd 614 [40]
2017 VAL
20 		VAL
3 		BRH
3 		BRH
1* 		VEN
3 		VEN
5 		HOC
4 		HOC
2 		FRA
1* 		FRA
1** 		ZOL
1** 		ZOL
4 		1st 661 [41]
2018 VAL
1* 		VAL
1* 		FRA
1* 		FRA
29 		1st 512 [42]
Toyota BRH
21 		BRH
3 		TOU
2 		TOU
1* 		HOC
15 		HOC
1* 		ZOL
1* 		ZOL
1*
2019 Chevy VAL
3 		VAL
4 		FRA
1* 		FRA
1* 		BRH
1 		BRH
3 		MOS
20 		MOS
22 		VEN
8 		HOC
14 		HOC
26 		ZOL
6 		ZOL
2 		4th 473 [43]
2020 PK Carsport 24 ITA
2 		ITA
4 		BEL
3 		BEL
1* 		CRO
5 		CRO
1* 		ESP1
6 		ESP1
1 		ESP2
1* 		ESP2
4 		1st 431 [44]
2021 CAAL Racing 88 ESP
5 		ESP
19 		GBR
1* 		GBR
19 		CZE
1* 		CZE
17 		CRO
5 		CRO
3 		BEL
17 		BEL
1* 		ITA
19 		ITA
3 		6th 367
2022 PK Carsport 24 ESP
4 		ESP
1 		GBR
1 		GBR
16* 		ITA
1* 		ITA
2 		CZE
4 		CZE
1* 		CRO
1* 		CRO
3 		1st 425
SpeedHouse 40 Ford BEL
11 		BEL
27

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "About | Alon Day". Archived from the original on 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  2. ^ "Belardi signs Israeli driver for Indy Lights campaign". 10 March 2014., Racer, January 20, 2012, Retrieved 2012-01-21
  3. ^ a b Levin, David (September 21, 2016). "NASCAR's First Israeli Driver to Compete in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series". Florida Waterfront. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Candy Bowl: Alon Day revving up to be NASCAR's 1st Jewish driver". www.nydailynews.com.
  5. ^ "Beyond the Cockpit: Alon Day Looks to Become the First Israeli NASCAR Driver". www.frontstretch.com. 19 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b "The Drive of Alon Day: Born in Israel, bred on video games, the Jewish pilot tows NASCAR's latest diversity hopes". Sports Illustrated.
  7. ^ a b c d "Israeli race car drivers stuck in neutral". Haaretz.
  8. ^ "In the driver's seat,"". The Jerusalem Post.
  9. ^ a b c "Israel's first NASCAR driver". Ynet.
  10. ^ "Payment | Driver Database".
  11. ^ "Reference at www.thejc.com".
  12. ^ "Belardi Auto Racing and Alon Day part ways". Archived from the original on 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-06-27., IndyCar, June 27, 2012, Retrieved 2012-06-27
  13. ^ "Reference at www.thejc.com".
  14. ^ a b c d "Alon Day | NASCAR Home Tracks".
  15. ^ a b "NASCAR: Six Drivers Earn Touring Series' Most Popular Driver Awards". 2016-11-23. Archived from the original on 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  16. ^ "FUTURE STARS UNVEILED IN NASCAR NEXT 2016-17 CLASS". NASCAR. May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  17. ^ Knight, Chris (July 23, 2016). "NASCAR Next's Alon Day To Make XFINITY Series Debut At Mid-Ohio". Catchfence. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. ^ Gluck, Jeff (August 13, 2016). "Alon Day poised to make NASCAR history as first Israeli driver". USA Today. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "NASCAR Driver Alon Day, 25, Is Israel's Athlete of the Year". Tablet.
  20. ^ "2016 Mid-Ohio Challenge". Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  21. ^ Kraft, RJ (August 13, 2016). "NASCAR NEXT'S ALON DAY HAS STRONG SHOWING AT MID-OHIO". NASCAR. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  22. ^ "2016 Road America 180". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  23. ^ "2016 UNOH 175". Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  24. ^ "Alon Day Receives Israel's Athlete Of The Year Award". automobilsport.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Reference at www.nydailynews.com". New York Daily News.
  26. ^ Southers, Tim (June 16, 2017). "Alon Day to make NASCAR Cup debut at Sonoma with BK Racing". Motorsport.com. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  27. ^ "2017 Toyota / Save Mart 350". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  28. ^ "Israel's Day hoping to build on NASCAR Cup Series debut - Israel News - Jerusalem Post".
  29. ^ "Day is the New NWES Champion | NASCAR Home Tracks". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  30. ^ "Alon Day scores first Euro Series win of 2019 at Franciacorta". motorsport.com. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  31. ^ "ALON DAY MAKES IT A PERFECT WEEKEND FOR CAAL RACING". euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Alon Day Continues Winning Way". speedsport.com. Speed Sport. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  33. ^ Wiegold, André; Ercoli, Gianmarco (October 4, 2020). "Alon Day grabs his first win of the season and championship lead at Circuit Zolder". www.euronascar.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  34. ^ "Alon Day – 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  35. ^ "Alon Day – 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  36. ^ "Alon Day – 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  37. ^ "Alon Day – 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  38. ^ "Alon Day – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  39. ^ "Alon Day – 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  40. ^ "Alon Day – 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  41. ^ "Alon Day – 2017 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  42. ^ "Alon Day – 2018 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  43. ^ "Alon Day – 2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  44. ^ "Alon Day – 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Elite 1 Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion
2017–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion
2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion
2022 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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