Alon Day

Day was born and grew up in Ashdod, Israel, and currently resides in Tel Aviv, Israel, and is Jewish.{{cite web |last=Levin |first=David |date=September 21, 2016 |title=NASCAR's First Israeli Driver to Compete in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series |url=http://www.flwaterfront.com/2016/09/21/nascars-first-israeli-driver-compete-nascar-camping-world-truck-series/ |access-date=September 21, 2016 |publisher=Florida Waterfront}}{{cite news |title=Candy Bowl: Alon Day revving up to be NASCAR’s 1st Jewish driver |work=www.nydailynews.com |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/candy-bowl-alon-day-revving-nascar-1st-jewish-driver-article-1.2951864}}{{cite web |title=Beyond the Cockpit: Alon Day Looks to Become the First Israeli NASCAR Driver |url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2016/04/19/alon-day-looks-to-become-the-first-jewish-and-israeli-nascar-driver/ |website=www.frontstretch.com|date=19 April 2016 }}{{cite news |title=The Drive of Alon Day: Born in Israel, bred on video games, the Jewish pilot tows NASCAR's latest diversity hopes |url=https://www.si.com/nascar/2016/10/27/Jewish-driver-Alon-Day-tows-NASCAR-latest-diversity-hopes |newspaper=Sports Illustrated}} His father, Avi Day, owns a geological-engineering company involved in mineral drilling, and his mother Maggi originally immigrated to Israel from France.{{cite news |title=Israeli race car drivers stuck in neutral |publisher=Haaretz |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-race-car-drivers-stuck-in-neutral-1.400515}}{{cite news |title=In the driver’s seat," |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/In-the-drivers-seat}} He began his racing career with go-karts at the age of 10.{{cite news |title=Israel's first NASCAR driver |publisher=Ynet |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4917326,00.html}} For his bar mitzvah, his father gave him as a present a karting vehicle that cost NIS 20,000.

After high school, he performed three years of military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He was recognized by the IDF as an outstanding sportsman, the only Israeli in a Formula sport to be accorded that status. He was accepted into the Israeli Air Force pilots' training course, but gave it up because of his career. If he were not a racing car driver, he would want to be a fighter pilot.

Day won the Asian Formula Renault Challenge championship in 2009, when he was 17 years old.{{cite web| url = http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/19970/| title = Payment {{!}} Driver Database}}{{cite web| url = https://www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/the-go-kart-kid-looking-for-a-winning-formula-1.20313| title = Reference at www.thejc.com}} He then drove in the German Formula Three Championship in 2010, racing with the Performance Racing team. He finished ninth in points, with a best finish of fourth (twice).

He returned to the series in 2011 driving for HS Engineering. He improved to fourth in points and captured two podium finishes of third place. He also won the pole for the second race at Sachsenring. He made six starts in Formula 3 Euro Series (two race meets – Norisring and Silverstone Circuit) and drove in two races in Austria Formula 3 Cup, good enough for eighth in that championship.

In 2012 Day's career transitioned to North America, where he signed to drive in the Firestone Indy Lights series with Belardi Auto Racing. Day made six starts for the team before they amicably parted ways in June after qualifying at the Iowa Speedway.{{cite web| url = http://www.indycar.com/en/News/2012/06-June/6-27-Belardi-and-Day-part-ways| title = Belardi Auto Racing and Alon Day part ways| access-date = 2012-06-27| archive-date = 2012-06-28| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120628223642/http://www.indycar.com/en/News/2012/06-June/6-27-Belardi-and-Day-part-ways| url-status = dead}}, IndyCar, June 27, 2012, Retrieved 2012-06-27 He was sponsored by the Jewish Racing Drivers Association.{{cite web| url = https://www.thejc.com/sport/sport-news/a-special-day-for-alon-20-1.31628| title = Reference at www.thejc.com}}

In 2015, he made his NASCAR debut in the season opener at Valencia, posting a top-10 finish.{{cite web| url = http://hometracks.nascar.com/drivers/nwes/alon-day| title = Alon Day {{!}} NASCAR Home Tracks}} He attained his first NASCAR win at Magione in the semifinals. At the Circuit Zolder Finals weekend, he won the Junior "Jerome Sarran" Trophy. He also won the 2015 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Most Popular Driver Award.{{Cite web| url=https://www.racechaseronline.com/nascar/touring-series/nascar-drivers-earn-touring-series-popular-driver-awards/| title=NASCAR: Six Drivers Earn Touring Series' Most Popular Driver Awards| date=2016-11-23| access-date=2017-04-17| archive-date=2017-04-18| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418162444/https://www.racechaseronline.com/nascar/touring-series/nascar-drivers-earn-touring-series-popular-driver-awards/| url-status=usurped}}

In 2016 Day won his fourth career NASCAR race in the opening weekend in Valencia, won the second race of the season at Brands Hatch, and at Zolder he won the Junior Trophy classification. He also won the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Most Popular Driver Award.

File:13 Alon Day 2016 Road America 180.jpg car at Road America in 2016.]]

Also in 2016, Day was named one of the 11 members of the 2016–17 NASCAR Next program, which recognizes young successful drivers from around the world who are seeking to improve.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/5/17/nascar-next-class-of-2016-announced.html|title=FUTURE STARS UNVEILED IN NASCAR NEXT 2016-17 CLASS|work=NASCAR|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2016}} Day was the first driver of NASCAR's European circuit (the Whelen Euro Series) to earn the honor. In August, he joined MBM Motorsports for his Xfinity Series debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, making Day the first Israeli to compete in a major NASCAR touring series.{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Chris|url=http://www.catchfence.com/2016/xfinity/07/23/nascar-next-alon-day-to-make-xfinity-series-debut-at-mid-ohio|title=NASCAR Next's Alon Day To Make XFINITY Series Debut At Mid-Ohio|publisher=Catchfence|date=July 23, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016}} The effort was supported by Jewish Sarasota, Florida, environmental/waterfront property lawyer David Levin, who provided Day with $60,000 from his retirement account to fund the car.{{cite news|last=Gluck|first=Jeff|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2016/07/30/alon-day-nascar-first-israeli-driver/87773226/|title=Alon Day poised to make NASCAR history as first Israeli driver|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 13, 2016|access-date=September 21, 2016}}{{cite news| url = http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/221625/a-nascar-driver-is-israels-athlete-of-the-year| title = NASCAR Driver Alon Day, 25, Is Israel's Athlete of the Year|publisher= Tablet}} After qualifying 22nd, Day capitalized on the rainy conditions to enter the top ten, where he ran for most of the race before finishing 13th.{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/2016_Mid-Ohio_Challenge/B|title=2016 Mid-Ohio Challenge|access-date=August 17, 2016}}{{cite web|last=Kraft|first=RJ|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/8/13/alon-day-nascar-next-mid-ohio-challenge-xfinity-debut.html|title=NASCAR NEXT'S ALON DAY HAS STRONG SHOWING AT MID-OHIO|publisher=NASCAR|date=August 13, 2016|access-date=August 18, 2016}} Day returned at Road America, driving the No. 13 for MBM and finishing 30th{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/2016_Road_America_180/B|title=2016 Road America 180|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=September 21, 2016}} after he was forced off course late in the race. In September, Contreras Motorsports hired Day to make his Camping World Truck Series debut at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in which he finished 24th.{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/2016_UNOH_175/C|title=2016 UNOH 175|access-date=March 23, 2017}}

File:Alon Day Sonoma 2017.jpg

In January 2017, Day was recognized by Israel's Ministry Of Culture and Sport as Israel's Athlete Of The Year in the motorsports category.{{cite web| url = http://www.automobilsport.com/alon-day-israel-athlete-of-year-award---159436.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170417161302/http://www.automobilsport.com/alon-day-israel-athlete-of-year-award---159436.html| url-status = usurped| archive-date = April 17, 2017| title = Alon Day Receives Israel's Athlete Of The Year Award |website= automobilsport.com}} On June 11, Day won the NASCAR Whelen Euro race in England on June 11 at Brands Hatch.{{cite web| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/sports/day-1st-israeli-driver-race-nascar-top-level-article-1.3272561| title = Reference at www.nydailynews.com| website = New York Daily News}} Later in June, Day joined BK Racing for his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sonoma Raceway's Toyota/Save Mart 350, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry.{{cite web|last=Southers|first=Tim|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/alon-day-to-make-nascar-cup-debut-at-sonoma-with-bk-racing-919266/|title=Alon Day to make NASCAR Cup debut at Sonoma with BK Racing|publisher=Motorsport.com|date=June 16, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2017}} After starting 32nd, he finished in the same position.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2017_Toyota-Save_Mart_350/W|title=2017 Toyota / Save Mart 350|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=June 25, 2017}} He became the first Israeli to compete in a Cup Series race.{{Cite web | url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Israels-Day-hoping-to-build-on-NASCAR-Cup-Series-debut-498000 |title = Israel's Day hoping to build on NASCAR Cup Series debut - Israel News - Jerusalem Post}} In mid-October, following a fourth-place finish at the second final of the NASCAR Whelen Euro race at Circuit Zolder, he became the first Israeli driver to win a NASCAR championship, clinching the 2017 championship title after only completing just the first lap, finishing the final standings 53 points ahead of defending and two-time series champion Anthony Kumpen.{{Cite web |url=http://hometracks.nascar.com/nwes/elite-1/story/day-new-nwes-champion_10152017 |title=Day is the New NWES Champion | NASCAR Home Tracks |access-date=2017-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017145736/http://hometracks.nascar.com/nwes/elite-1/story/day-new-nwes-champion_10152017 |archive-date=2017-10-17 |url-status=dead }}

On September 17, 2018, it was announced that Day would return to the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 23 Camry for BK Racing at Richmond.

In the 2019 season, Day started his season strongly after he won both races at Franciacorta and the first race at Brands Hatch.{{cite web|title=Alon Day scores first Euro Series win of 2019 at Franciacorta|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-euro/news/alon-day-euro-series-win-at-franciacorta/4386447/|website=motorsport.com|date=12 May 2019|access-date=13 October 2019}}{{cite web|title=ALON DAY MAKES IT A PERFECT WEEKEND FOR CAAL RACING|url=https://www.euronascar.com/2019/05/12/alon-day-makes-it-a-perfect-weekend-for-caal-racing/|website=euronascar.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=12 May 2019|access-date=13 October 2019}}{{cite web|title=Alon Day Continues Winning Way|url=https://speedsport.com/nascar/touring-series/alon-day-continues-winning-ways/|website=speedsport.com|publisher=Speed Sport|date=1 June 2019|access-date=13 October 2019}} However, he would retire from both races at Most after he collided with Jacques Villeneuve in the first race and was involved in a first corner incident in the second race. Another troublesome week at Hockenheim would follow, where Day received a post-race time penalty for colliding with Stienes Longin in the first race before retiring from the lead in the second race. Day would eventually finish the season in fourth place with 3 wins, 6 podium finishes, and 9 Top-10 finishes.

On October 4, 2020, Day won his first EuroNASCAR contest of the season at Zolder and also assumed the points lead.{{cite web |last1=Wiegold |first1=André |last2=Ercoli |first2=Gianmarco |title=Alon Day grabs his first win of the season and championship lead at Circuit Zolder |url=https://www.euronascar.com/2020/10/04/alon-day-grabs-his-first-win-of-the-season-and-the-championship-lead-at-circuit-zolder/ |website=www.euronascar.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=October 4, 2020}}

{{sup|†}} Guest driver - Ineligible to score points.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

† As Day was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest lap. * – Most laps led. ^ – Most positions gained)

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{{succession box| title = NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion| before = Anthony Kumpen| after = Loris Hezemans| years = 2017–2018}}

{{succession box| title = NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion| before = Loris Hezemans| after = Loris Hezemans| years = 2020}}

{{succession box| title = NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
champion| before = Loris Hezemans| after = Incumbent| years = 2022}}

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{{Alpha Prime Racing}}

{{BK Racing}}

{{MBM Motorsports}}

{{Contreras Motorsports}}

{{Belardi Auto Racing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Alon}}

Category:1991 births

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