Kurt Busch will make his racing debut at Le Mans driving his NEMCO-prepared No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet Camaro.
What happened?
The event marks Historic Sportscar Racing’s first competition outside North America, bringing a uniquely American flavor to the legendary French circuit.
Kurt Busch joins a diverse field spanning nearly six decades of NASCAR history.
Why it matters for Kurt Busch
Busch’s participation in the HSR NASCAR Classic is a significant moment in his career, as he takes to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the first time.
The weekend also serves as a rolling tribute to some of the sport’s most recognizable figures, including Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Greg Biffle.
What comes next?
Competition begins Friday with qualifying before three races scheduled across Saturday and Sunday, featuring notable names such as Michael Parsons and Victor Corda.
Kurt Busch will be driving a former Chip Ganassi Racing entry from his Cup Series career, the NEMCO-prepared No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet Camaro.
The event celebrates a major milestone in NASCAR’s international history, with Jean Algernas driving the former Donlavey Racing No. 90 Ford Torino, one of the two stock cars that represented NASCAR during its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 50 years ago.
JC France will pilot a Chevrolet Camaro carrying the same Garage 56 livery used by Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller during NASCAR’s widely praised exhibition entry in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The field will include other notable names, such as former NFL lineman Scott Dolfi, who is entered in a former Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado truck once raced by John Hunter Nemechek.
Three entries will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2006 racing comedy “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, with Ryan Gemmell driving the No. 55 Perrier Chevrolet Monte Carlo associated with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Jean Girard character.
Former NASCAR Busch Series champion Joe Nemechek will campaign a Cal Naughton Jr.-themed Toyota Camry, while IMSA President John Doonan will take the wheel of the iconic Wonder Bread-sponsored car made famous by Ricky Bobby.
The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear is set to take place during the Le Mans Classic, on the Fourth of July weekend, as part of the United States’ yearlong celebration of its 250th anniversary.
Kurt Busch said, “For me, it’s getting those juices flowing, grabbing gears, feeling the speed and the energy of the car again. I have a car. Let’s go.”
The event promises to be an exciting celebration of American racing heritage, with Kurt Busch and other notable names taking to the track at Le Mans.