(Photo: Aaron Bearden/Motorsports Beat)
By Aaron Bearden
The NASCAR field is heading to Daytona International Speedway for the first ever race weekend on the track’s road course layout, and in doing so it’s bringing a host of road course aces hoping to challenge the sport’s usual stars over the course of the four-race showcase.
Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy won’t be in that field, but it won’t be for lack of interest – in Tandy’s case, dating back to far before NASCAR dared to race at the same place he won in IMSA action at the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
As a native of the United Kingdom and sports car prodigy, Tandy isn’t the sort of figure one might associate with American stock car racing. But his love of NASCAR dates back to the days long before he was a driver.
Tandy attended the 2008 Daytona 500 before he ever raced at the World Center of Racing. He grew up cheering on drivers like the Earnhardts and Jimmie Johnson, having spent more than three decades watching the sport.
The fandom dates back to the 35-year-old’s formative years with his father, a grassroots racer on short ovals.
“I grew up on short ovals back in the UK,” Tandy told Motorsports Beat. “My father raced and when I was old enough I started racing also. The UK has a big stock car scene but it’s grass roots racing. So from a very young age my favourite thing to watch on TV was the NASCAR races from the States.
“I’m just a big fan really and I still follow the sport closely.”
In his time as a driver Tandy has never happened upon an opportunity to compete in NASCAR. His resume includes wins in Daytona, the 24 Hours of both Le Mans and the Nurbruging, Petit Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring and even a virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the sports car veteran has yet to add a stock car start to the mix.
He has driven a NASCAR track on a race day for the Cup Series, but it wasn’t in a race. He piloted a Coca-Cola Porsche GT Le Mans entry around the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway prior to the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race last fall, streaking by the NASCAR field as they strapped into their machines for the race.
Whilst we wait in hope it stops raining @TalladegaSuperS , I’ll put this one back out there 🚗 💨 https://t.co/dzI7Pk4BK0
— Nick Tandy (@NickTandyR) June 21, 2020
It wasn’t a Cup car, and Tandy couldn’t run at max speed. But the Bedford native still enjoyed the unique experience.
“To run at Talladega was pretty cool,” Tandy said “The biggest oval track we have in the UK is about 450 yards so just to see the place was exciting. I wish we could have run flat out, as we were restricted a little on speed, but it was still a good experience.”
Tandy hasn’t been back on-track during a NASCAR weekend since. But when NASCAR’s Daytona road course weekend was announced, the Porsche ace took a chance at adding his name to the mix for a real run in the event. He shared a tweet acknowledging that his services were available.
I’m available, Fri, Sat and Sun. ARCA, truck, Xfinity or Cup
— Nick Tandy (@NickTandyR) July 8, 2020
The opportunity never materialized, but Tandy remains open to the idea in the future if the right opportunity were to become available.
“I’m a professional driver so I’m always on the lookout for new potential ventures,” he said. “It was a bit of fun to state my interest – I’m no stock car driver, I have no license etc, but I do have experience running at Daytona of course.
“If someone just happened to need a driver then I’d seriously have considered it but these scenarios don’t occur often. I’ve had people reach out to me but it’s all about how much cash you can bring to the game, which I fully understand. Racing costs money so people aren’t just going to let you race for free. But you never know what’s out there so it’s often best to state you’re willing and available!”
While he’s not racing this weekend, Tandy also has a decent idea of what to expect when the drivers competing roll through their respective races without practice.
“I expect it to be tough for the teams and the drivers,” he said. “The road course has lots of slow speed turns and traction is always an issue. I can see a few cars also destroying left front tires locking up into (Turn 1), as it’s super high speed on approach but a very difficult braking zone as you come off the banking.”
The NASCAR field will take to Daytona for the unpredictable road course affair this weekend, with all three national tours and the ARCA Menards Series competing.
Tandy won’t be in the field – but he’s sure to be watching, as always.
