Kyle Busch Motorsports announced today that they have signed former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen to drive a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series during the 2011 season. Raikkonen is scheduled to make his NASCAR debut as a teammate to owner Kyle Busch in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20. Raikkonen comes to NASCAR with a resume that includes the 2007 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship. Over his nine year career in Formula 1, the Finnish driver registered 18 wins and 62 podium finishes. The 31-year old is currently competing for a World Rally Car Championship for his own team, ICE 1 Racing. Details of sponsorship and a schedule of races that Raikkonen will compete in will be released at a later date.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(4-2-2011) UPDATE 1: Kimi Raikkonen will pay a reported $100,000 per race as he moves to establish a career in America’s premier NASCAR series. Canada’s Rue Frontenac said driver and team owner “Kyle Busch has never met Kimi Raikkonen” but will “entrust one of his excellent trucks” to the Finn “in exchange for a US $100,000 check at every race”. Rue Frontenac said Raikkonen’s plan is to “pay for some truck races to raise interest and get a sponsorship budget for Nationwide and possibly the (premier) Sprint Cup”. His contract with Busch is reportedly for three to five races. “Raikkonen shopped around for a drive with a number of teams and we won the war,” Busch is quoted as saying. Raikkonen tested the truck at the Gresham half-mile on Monday.(Facebook – Ice 1 Racing)(4-5-2011)
UPDATE 2: Perky Jerky the ultra-premium jerky flavored with a hint of guarana that’s quickly gaining fame around the world, announced today its sponsorship of former Formula One World Champion and current World Rally competitor, Kimi Raikkonen. The relationship is set to launch alongside Rikknen’s NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series on May 20th. In 2011, Raikkonen will sport the Perky Jerky livery in NASCAR through IceOne Racing,Raikkonen’s motorsport outfit.(PerkyJerky.com)(4-6-2011)
UPDATE 3: In preparation for his NASCAR debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, Ice 1 Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen participated in three days of testing with Kyle Busch Motorsports this week. The former Formula 1 champion made his first laps around an oval track during a two-day test session at Gresham Motorsports on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a one-day test at Rockingham Speedway on Thursday. After successfully completing the two-day test at the half-mile oval, KBM officials added the one-day test at Rockingham Speedway, a one-mile oval, to allow Raikkonen to experience the feel of a larger and faster track. “We only ran about 50 laps today because it was obvious that we didn’t need to get much more out of this test,” said KBM crew chief Eric Phillips “The kid definitely knows how to drive.”(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR) [For complete rundown on this story, visit the April NCWTS News Archives page](4-8-2011)
