Juan Pablo Montoya has a easy reply to why he’s rejoining the NASCAR discipline for the primary time in over a decade subsequent month at Watkins Glen.
Why not?
Montoya was referred to as upon by 23XI Racing to race its third entry, the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota. Will probably be the ultimate begin for the automotive this season, and Montoya was a little bit of a shock driver selection. The 48-year-old final competed in a NASCAR Cup Collection race in 2014.
“Steve Lauletta (the president of 23XI Racing) referred to as me and mentioned, ‘Hey, would you be interested by doing Watkins [Glen]?’ And I assumed, ‘Oh, that might be enjoyable,’” Montoya mentioned. “Actually, it was just about that. I assumed it could be fairly cool. I at all times loved operating at The Glen, to be trustworthy. We at all times ran effectively there in Cup and since then, I’ve been to The Glen many instances with IMSA and with IndyCar, and I do know the observe effectively. I assumed it could be a enjoyable factor to do, ?
“I’m within the level in my profession that, truthfully, I’m not in search of a job. I’m not in search of something. However a chance like this comes alongside, and I believe I can nonetheless be actually aggressive and have a shot at it. So, why not?”
Montoya earned one win in seven Cup Collection begins at Watkins Glen. He completed thirty third at Watkins Glen in his solely Xfinity Collection begin on the observe. However Montoya has made 12 begins on the street course throughout 4 completely different sequence.
Admittedly, nonetheless, the Colombian didn’t suppose he can be again in NASCAR after so a few years away. Montoya has spent the previous few years operating sports activities automobiles and made just a few IndyCar begins in 2021 and ’22. However he’s principally been alongside son Sebastian as his racing profession blossoms.
Montoya made 278 begins between the NASCAR Cup Collection and Xfinity Collection, together with as a full-time Cup Collection driver from 2007 by way of 2013. He gained two races throughout that tenure, one at Sonoma Raceway and one at Watkins Glen. Montoya additionally made two begins in 2014 earlier than leaving the inventory automotive world.
Not since he was a driver has Montoya been in a NASCAR storage. And to return again driving a automotive co-owned by Denny Hamlin, whom Montoya as soon as competed towards, made him snigger.
“Actually, it’s thrilling,” Montoya mentioned of being again within the NASCAR neighborhood. “One of many cool issues in 23XI there’s a whole lot of the oldsters that work there used to work at Ganassi [Racing] again within the day, so it was very nice to see a whole lot of outdated faces. I’m actually excited for the chance.
“I’m simply wanting ahead to a enjoyable day. I need to race the hell out of the automotive, and I would like all people at 23XI and Mobil 1 and everybody who has supported this program that once we come out of there on Sunday night time, we’re going to go, ‘Man that was superior.’ Regardless of the result’s.”
The Go Bowling on the Glen is the weekend of Sept. 14-15.
