NASCAR Cup Series: Alon Day talks Richmond race, Best Bully Sticks

Alon Day is set to make his second career NASCAR Cup Series start tonight. We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his racing career.

After making his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the race at Sonoma Raceway last season, Alon Day is set to return to the Cup Series for this weekend’s playoff race at Richmond Raceway.

The 26-year-old Israeli driver qualified in 37th place for the 400-lap race around the four-turn, 0.75-mile (1.207-kilometer) Richmond Raceway oval in Richmond, Virginia behind the wheel of the #23 BK Racing Toyota.

This race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET this evening, and it is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.

We had the chance to talk to Day and ask him a few questions about the race weekend, his sponsor for this weekend’s race, Best Bully Sticks, and his racing career in general.

Here is what the up-and-coming driver had to say.

Beyond the Flag: How did you become associated with Best Bully Sticks to the point where they agreed to sponsor your car in this weekend’s race? Do you have any previous affiliation?

Alon Day: Having an opportunity to race in Richmond, it was a natural partnership between Best Bully Sticks and I for this race. Being a dog lover, I am excited for the opportunity to partner with Best Bully Sticks. We have no previous affiliation and it is Best Bully Sticks first sponsorship in racing.

BTF: What key values and other factors about Best Bully Sticks as not only a company but as your sponsor do you believe you most associate with?

AD: Best Bully Sticks is an all-natural, single ingredient bully stick brand made for canines of all sizes and ages. Best Bully Sticks is an up and coming brand, and as I am an up and coming driver we share similar values about working hard to establish ourselves. I have been a big dog lover my entire life, and the opportunity to work with a brand who strives so hard to make sure dogs are given the best products possible is something I am thrilled to be a part of.

BTF: With Best Bully Sticks being a dog treat company, are you yourself a fan of dogs and/or do you own any?

AD: Yes, I am a dog lover. I had dogs growing up as a child. I don’t have a dog currently (given my racing schedule), but I look forward to the time when I can own a dog again.

BTF: What one thing do you want the NASCAR world to know about Best Bully Sticks with them being a relatively young company that many fans may not have heard about before this weekend?

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AD: BestBullySticks.com is where fans can purchase bully sticks for their dogs. I encourage fans to buy some for their dogs. It’s the perfect treat for dogs who watch NASCAR with their owners.

BTF: What is your goal heading into the race as far as finishing goes considering you are driving for BK Racing, one of the smallest teams in the sport?

AD: As this is only my second Cup series race, I am not concerned with a specific place in terms of finishing. I am eager to learn as much as I can, gaining more experience racing in America, getting qualified for larger tracks, and having a great race for Best Bully Sticks.

BTF: Does the fact that the playoffs are going on affect how you will drive as a non-playoff driver, or will you be just as aggressive as you ordinarily would be if you end up racing for position against a driver who is driving around slightly above or below the round of 12 cut line?

AD: Of course I want to race to win, but this is also my first oval race. Road courses are my specialty during my racing in Europe. I will definitely steer clear of the playoff drivers.

BTF: With this being your second one-off effort in the Cup Series, do you see yourself getting a part-time or even a full-time ride in the near future?

AD: That’s the goal – to land a full-time ride in America in the near future. I want to race competitively in the Cup Series, Xfinity, or Truck.

BTF: With BK Racing having had several part-time drivers of the #23 Toyota this year, do you consider this weekend’s race as a kind of audition for a future larger role within the team?

AD: I look at this weekend’s race as an audition for the future. My main focus is on racing a good race and finishing in one piece.

BTF: What can you apply from what you learned in your first race at Sonoma Raceway last year to your race this weekend at Richmond Raceway even though the former is a road course and the latter is a short oval?

AD: The tracks are different, but the competition and driver aggressiveness that I learned about when racing at Sonoma will be the same here in Richmond.

BTF: Can you apply anything you’ve learned from previous oval racing experience in other series to this weekend’s race?

AD: The oval racing experience that I do have cannot compare to oval racing in the Cup Series. I am looking at this race here in Richmond to gain more experience in this style of race track.

BTF: Having competed in Indy Lights for half of the 2012 season and having recorded some solid efforts in your six races, is there a chance you could try to return to American open-wheel racing, perhaps even by competing in the Indianapolis 500?

AD: I would love to race in the Indianapolis 500 (and if offered, of course would race), but I am having much more fun racing in NASCAR. That’s the type of racing that I am pursuing in the future.

BTF: You have driven in many racing series over the course of your career as a professional driver in the last decade or so. Do you believe that the experience you gain from competing in a number of different series is beneficial when it comes to pursuing full-time rides, or do you believe that it makes it more difficult to find teams and sponsors willing to commit to having you drive in one series?

AD: I have definitely gained a lot of experience from racing in many different cars and series, which I think makes me a better driver. Coming from Israel, where motorsports are not that popular, makes everything much more difficult. But, as I’ve always said, it’s all about patience. I am working to do my best in each and every race, and I know the opportunities will come, just like here in Richmond with Best Bully Sticks. Many thanks to them for supporting me here in this race.

BTF: Aside of the series in which you have competed, do you have any other particular series that you enjoy watching or might be interested in driving in at some point?

AD: I like watching and would enjoy racing in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

BTF: What have been some of the highlights of your racing career so far?

AD: Definitely winning the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Championship last year is a highlight. With one race to go this year, I am looking forward to hopefully defending my title this year.

Thank you to Alon Day for being willing to take the time to answer these interview questions. Have a great race at Richmond Raceway tonight and have a great rest of your racing career, whether that is in NASCAR or in any other series!