Kenko Miura will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Joey Gase Motorsports this weekend, racing the No. 53 Needs24 Toyota Supra for the race in the streets of Chicago.
Team Japan Needs24 owner/driver Kenko Miura is set for a return to the United States after it was announced that the Japanese driver will be racing the No. 53 Needs24 Toyota Supra for Joey Gase Motorsports in this week’s The Loop 110 at Chicago Street Course.
After a one-off outing with Reaume Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2022, Miura is taking things one step ahead with the deal with JGM to race in the Xfinity Series, the second-highest tier of racing in NASCAR’s ladder.
Miura will be racing alongside fan favorite underdog Brad Perez, who will race JGM’s No. 35 Ford Performance Ford Mustang at Chicago.
“My dream is to race in the US in the Cup Series and on the way to fulfill this dream I’m joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Chicago” said Miura in the official announcement.
“It’s going to be a difficult race and a very stimulating challenge. I will do my best to make the field and I hope I can finish somewhere around the top-15. Getting a top-10 finish would be fantastic.”
Joey Gase Motorsports is one of the youngest teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Formed by owner-driver Joey Gase in 2021, the team regularly fields the No. 35 team and occasionally runs a second entry in the No. 53 team for the 2024 season.
Senior journeyman crew chief Mike Hillman Sr. will act as Miura’s race engineer, with Ryan Blanchard providing further support as Miura’s in-race spotter.
“Our Joey Gase Motorsport’s team is extremely excited to have Kenko driving our #53 car in the streets of Chicago!” said Gase.
“Although this will be Kenko’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series start, he is a very mature and experienced road course driver and I know that will help our team be successful in Chicago!”
While Miura will be the only active EuroNASCAR driver to compete at Chicago, he will not be alone in this weekend’s festivities.
Former four-time champion Alon Day had already announced his plans to race the No. 45 Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing, while former EuroNASCAR 2 competitor Andre Castro will be returning to the No. 14 SS-Green Light Racing Camaro after a previous outing at Portland International Raceway.
According to the Qualifying Provisional Status sheet posted by David PeQueen on Twitter at @CarSDS2078, both Day and Miura must qualify on speed by putting their car 33rd or higher in Qualifying.
On the other hand, Castro will be guaranteed a spot in the main race at the streets of Chicago because the No. 14 team currently sits 28th in the Owners Championship.
With 38 cars qualifying out of 43 entrants, Castro’s team is positioned high enough to lock a place in the starting grid.
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.