The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series silly season continues to bring up the heat as Alon Day announced yesterday that he will be switching teams to PK Carsport in 2020. Day is set to drive the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro that was driven by Nicolò Rocca in 2019 and will receive a full-season sponsorship backing from Monster Energy on his sixth season in the series.
Day had previously announced on 22 January that he will be leaving CAAL Racing through social media. It marked the end of a partnership that will be remembered as one of the most successful in the series history as they scored 20 wins, 23 pole positions, 20 fastest laps, and 2 championship titles during the Israeli’s five year stay with CAAL.
“I’m excited! It’s a fresh challenge. With CAAL we won so much and we were so close I consider them as my family, but now this new decade brings a new challenge and new energies to go chase the third championship with a great team like PK Carsport,” said Day to euronascar.com on switching to his rival team in the series.
PK Carsport’s signing of Alon Day will see two former rivals in Day and PK Carsport team manager – and former two-time Euro Series champion – Anthony Kumpen joining forces as they will be working together on their quest to win the 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series title.
“I expect to be competing at the front of the field in Valencia and I feel great about this new beginning,” said Day on joining forces with former rival Kumpen and PK Carsport. “It will take some time to settle in, but we all know PK Carsport is one of the best teams if not the best team in EuroNASCAR. I know it because we fought against each other for a long time, but when two adversaries share the same passion for winning, they can get together and become even stronger together. And this shows how beautiful this sport is.”
“We will work very hard with Anthony, the team and my teammates and I’ll push myself with the training, the simulator, the gym. I will give the absolute best I can, I want to keep building my legacy and add to the #24 PK Carsport Chevy’s legacy with Monster Energy.”
It is also revealed that Day has signed a contract with Monster Energy to become an official Monster Energy athlete starting from 2020, a deal that will see Day join the likes of 2004 Cup champion Kurt Busch, defending Cup champion Kyle Busch, and ARCA rising star Hailie Deegan as drivers that will be receiving sponsorship backing from the American energy drinks giant in this year’s NASCAR and ARCA season.
“Becoming a Monster Energy athlete is a dream come true,” said Day on becoming a Monster Energy athlete. “Every athlete would love to be sponsored by Monster Energy and the fact they choose me is just fantastic and a milestone in my career. I want to make them happy and win as many races I can. I want to be on a different level.”
“I’ve been a Monster Energy athlete myself in the past and now Alon is the second to receive Monster Energy’s support and that’s a great honor,” said Anthony Kumpen, a former Monster Energy athlete himself, on Day becoming an official Monster Energy backed driver this year. “Monster is really a cool brand and they do a lot for the sport. I am very happy Monster brought us together and I am looking forward to another great season. The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series keeps growing at a fast pace and that’s one of the reasons why many big sponsors are joining the series with top-level drivers and teams. I can’t wait for the season to start!”
Day’s announcement continues the trend of top drivers switching teams for 2020 after previous announcements confirms that Jacques Villeneuve, Ander Vilariño, and Gianmarco Ercoli will be switching teams to FEED Racing, DF1 Racing, and CAAL Racing respectively this year.
The 2020 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season will start with the traditional season opening round, the Valencia NASCAR Fest, on 25-26 April. The season will consist of 13 races in 7 of Europe’s best tracks and will provide race fans with the best Pure Racing action from Europe’s premier stock car racing series.
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Monster Energy.