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Israeli racer Alon Day was in Florida getting ready to compete in the CUBE 3 Architecture Trans Am 2 Series when the US and Israel launched airstrikes in Iran in a joint offensive on Saturday.
The former NASCAR driver had a lot on his mind as he thought about his family back home as Iran launched retaliatory actions against countries that have US military bases in them.
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Alon Day stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“It’s a bit of a difficult situation. I’m here racing in the United States and at the same moment my wife, my child and everybody are in Israel,” he told Pakinomist Digital. “It’s so complicated to think about everything. And now that I’m a new father, I want to be there. I want to be there with my family and everything. It’s extremely nervous to be here. My phone is always ringing with alerts about the ballistic missiles coming in Israel.
“It’s kind of tough. I’m here on a mission and I’m very happy that I have the opportunity to actually race here in the United States.”
The joint airstrikes were launched on Saturday and hit several military and nuclear facilities. The Israeli Defense Forces said on Sunday morning that they have launched strikes in the “heart of Tehran” and hit targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime. One of the attacks left Ali Khamenei dead.
Day expressed hope that the military operations will be able to bring stability to the Middle East.
Alon Day is presented with his championship ring during the NASCAR Touring Night of Champions at the Charlotte Convention Center on December 8, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
“Probably, yes,” he told Pakinomist Digital when asked if he thought the region would be more peaceful. “I get so many messages from random Iranian people saying “Thank you Israel, thank you USA. We’re going through a different kind of era right now.” Something is changing. We can’t even think about what the consequence of losing the war will be. If the Iranian people lose this war, they’re going to feel really bad about the Iranian regime.
“I feel like this is a good opportunity. But I’m not a politician. I’m not a military man. I’m just a racer. I’m on a mission and the mission is to win races as much as possible for JSSI and to bring the flag of Israel here and to show what great allies Israel and the United States are together.”
Day, who has spent time on NASCAR’s Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series circuits, said he had no plans to scrap his 2026 season.
“Look, I was born in 1991 – the Gulf War. I’ve been through the Intifada, Hamas, Hezbollah, everything,” he explained. “All people in Israel have grown up in this, this kind of war situation. It’s very sad to say, but we’re kind of used to it and we have to live with it.
“And it is what it is. I think now, specifically now, it’s for a good reason.”
Day praised the US and Israeli military for their actions.
Loris Hezemans, driver of #50 Hendriks Motorsport, Alon Day, driver of #24 Carsport and Nicolo Rocca, driver of #22 DF1 Racing pose on stage after the FRACASSO NASCAR GP of Croatia PRO race on November 15, 2020 at Grobnik Circuit in Rijeka, Croatia. (Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
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“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the US military forces and the Israeli military forces for what they do to keep us safe and for a better future in the fight against evil.
“I think everything is for a bright future ahead of us. I really want to take this opportunity to thank everyone, every person who is fighting against the Iranian regime. It’s for a good cause, so I really want to thank them.”
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