The mystery car sitting in the shop at Kyle Busch Motorsports is a mystery no more.
KBM is partnering with Joe Nemechek’s NEMCO Motorsports to put 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Räikkönen in the No. 87 Toyota for next Saturday’s Top Gear 300 Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, according to a Foxsports.com report.
KBM owner Kyle Busch dropped hints about the deal after winning Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series event at Charlotte. Busch alluded to the car in his shop, acknowledged that it was a Toyota but declined to reveal its provenance.
KBM will assemble the car Räikkönen will drive in his Nationwide debut. NEMCO will provide transporter, crew (supplemented by KBM), a backup car, and—most important—the owner points that will guarantee Räikkönen a starting spot in the race. The No. 87 currently is 19th in the owner standings, well inside the top 30 (the cutoff for a guaranteed starting spot).
Räikkönen finished 15th, on the lead lap, in his truck series debut Friday night.
Coincidentally, Busch made his Nationwide debut at Charlotte in 2003, driving a No. 87 Chevrolet owned by Joe Nemechek. Busch finished second to Matt Kenseth in the May 24, 2003 Carquest Auto Parts 300.
Source: AolSportingNews
