Like Lewis Hamilton, Daunting NASCAR Option Once Had Daniel Ricciardo Simply Saying “No”

If there’s one F1 driver America can call its own apart from Logan Sargeant, it has to be Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo, who is an Australian, made the United States his second home and enjoys quite a bit of fandom in the big North American country. Despite being an F1 star, the Honey Badger also fancies NASCAR, but that has to be something other than the oval races.

During an interview with Jalopnik in April, Ricciardo shared his hesitation and condition for the race when he was in the US for the Miami Grand Prix. When asked if the former McLaren driver would be up for a NASCAR race in oval tracks, he hesitantly replied, “Yes.”

But then he continued, “Yeah, maybe at a lower level, yes, just to kind of dip my toe in the water, but like if someone offered me, “Do you want to race NASCAR this weekend on an oval?” I’d be like, “No, I’ll walk before I can run.”

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Ricciardo’s interest in NASCAR has been everlasting. The man from the Land Down Under has often been vocal about his love for the sport and, more importantly, Dale Earnhardt. When the time comes, it seems he wouldn’t hesitate to get on the seat and buckle up for the race, but there’s just this single condition. This is a very similar stance to the one Lewis Hamilton had in 2015.

Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 racing number has a NASCAR connection

Daniel Ricciardo, an avid NASCAR fan, has a great connection with the sport for the choice of his racing number. Ricciardo uses the number 3 as his racing number which was also used by NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The Australian took inspiration from the seven-time NASCAR champion. A big-time Earnhardt fan, Ricciardo also made use of his McLaren opportunity at COTA to drive the legendary 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, once driven by Dale Earnhardt.

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Interestingly, the newest American F1 sensation, Logan Sargeant, also had the same number in mind. Since Ricciardo already has it on him, the FIA rule stopped the Williams recruit from taking it.

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As things stand, the next season is going to be fun for Daniel Ricciardo as F1 plans to visit the country thrice in a season. Although being the reserve driver for a team slightly takes away the competitive fun, the Honey Badger is expected to have good times in a country for which his love runs deep.