Alon Day

Alon Day is an Israeli racing driver and two-time NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion in 2017 and 2018. He also contested in all three American NASCAR national divisions – Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series.

Earlier in a career, Day contested in ADAC GT Masters, FIA GT Series, Indy Lights Series and Formula 3 races. At the beginning of his career, in 2009, he was the Asian Formula Renault champion.

Alon Day

Asian Formula Renault champion in 2009

Born in Ashdod, Israel, Alon started his racing career at the age of 10. At the age of 13, a father bought him a go-kart for a bar mitzvah. At the age of 16, Alon progressed to car racing, participating two seasons in the Hungarian E-2000 Championship.

In 2008, he had one-off appearances in the Formula BMW Pacific and Formula Renault Asian Challenge. In 2009, he spent a season in the Asian Formula Renault, driving for March 3 Racing and taking his first championship title.

After high school, in 2010, Alon had to serve three-year military service in the Israel Defence Force. He was recognized by the IDF as an outstanding sportsman and he had an opportunity to continue his racing career parallel to military service. Day was accepted into the Israeli Air Force pilots' training course, but he gave up because of his racing career.

Alon Day early in a career

Three seasons in Formula 3

In 2010, Day progressed to Formula 3, taking part in the ATS Formel 3 Cup (German championship) with the Performance Racing team. Driving a Dallara-Volkswagen, he finished ninth in the points.  Next year, he joined HS Technik Motorsport and improved to the fourth place in the final standings. He also had guest appearances in the Austrian Formula 3 (two wins) and Formula 3 Euro Series.

In 2012, Day spent a season with ADM Motorsport, scoring two podiums and finishing 11th in the final standings of the ATS Formel 3 Cup.

First Israeli in the IndyCar-sanctioned series

In 2012, Day tried to make a transition to Noth America and joined Belardi Auto Racing in the Indy Lights Series, becoming the first Israeli ever to participate in the IndyCar-sanctioned series.

Sponsored by the Jewish Racing Drivers Association, he was driving the #9 car in six events, finishing best in the sixth place at the Grand Prix of Alabama. Alon and the team parted ways after six rounds.

In two GT racing season, Alon Day was driving for Mercedes

Switching to sports car racing in 2013

In 2013, Day made a switch to sports car racing, joining the French team HTP Gravity Charouz in the FIA GT Series. He was successful in his first race, finishing third at Nogaro in the #1 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 he was sharing with Maximilian Buhk. The first victory came in the third round at Zandvoort. Day finished fifth in the final standings.

Over a season, he joined HTP Motorsport in one round of the Blancpain Endurance Series and one round of the French GT Championship. He and Luca Stolz scored two third-place finish in the FFSA GT round at Circuit Paul Ricard.

A season with Team Zakspeed

In 2014, Alon day continued to drive Mercedes but made a move to Team Zakspeed and participated full season in the ADAC GT Masters. He was sharing the #21 Mercedes with Luca Ludwig. Scoring just one podium, the second place at Nurburgring, he finished fifteen in the final standings.

Day also participated with Zakspeed in two races of the Blancpain Sprint Series, driving a Mercedes together with Andreas Simonsen at Baku street circuit.

Alon Day has fans all around the world

Successful stock car racing debut in 2015

In 2015, Day made a complete turnover, switching to another racing discipline – stock car racing. He joined Caal Racing to drive the #54 Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. He contested in the Elite 1 division, scoring his first victory in the fifth round at Autodromo dell'Umbria.

Then, he won both races in the season's finale at Circuit Zolder, finishing second in the final points standings, behind Ander Villarino. Day also received the Most Popular Driver Award.

American NASCAR debut in 2016

In 2016, Day was the Most popular driver again in the NASCAR Euro Series. Continuing to drive the #54 Chevrolet for Caal Racing, he was a race winner three times, finishing third in the points, behind Anthony Kumpen and Frederic Gabillon.

After being named as one of the members of the NASCAR Next program, which recognizes young drivers from around the world, he made a debut in the North American NASCAR Xfinity Series in August. He was driving the #40 Dodge for Carl Long's MBM Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Challenge. He finished in 13th place.

Later in the season, he participated in the Xfinity Series race at Road America and two NASCAR Truck Series races for Contreras Motorsports, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Alon Day - 2017 NASCAR Euro Series champion

NASCAR Euro Series champion in 2017 and 2018

In 2017, Alon Day scored four wins in the #54 Chevrolet SS to become the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion. He won at Brands Hatch, two times at Autodromo de Franciacorta and once in the season's finale at Circuit Zolder. In June 2017, he made a debut in the American premiere stock car racing division, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the #23 Toyota Camry for BK Racing at Sonoma Raceway. Starting from 32nd place, he ended a race in the same position.

He made one more start in the US with BK Racing in 2018, at Richmond Raceway. In Europe, he defended the championship title with eight victories in twelve races.

After two victorious seasons in the European NASCAR, he finished fourth in the points in 2019.

Photos: Stephane Azemard, Simon Gronenberg, alonday.com,