As for why that may be, the new car itself has to be part of it. The addition of several more road courses, the NASCAR Garage 56 entry at Le Mans, as well as innovative programmes such as Project91 and others like it have all helped to lure several international racing stars into the world of stock car racing.
INSIGHT: Inside the adaptations needed to realise NASCAR's Le Mans return
This year, many drivers well-known in motorsport but completely new to NASCAR made surprise appearances and, in one case, even reach Victory Lane. As we reflect on the 2023 season, let's take a look back at these drivers, who came from every corner of the racing world.
Extreme sports athlete Travis Pastrana made a real attempt at going NASCAR racing a decade ago, but found little success as a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series. Pastrana has long dreamed of running in the Daytona 500, but never really found the right opportunity.
But, with the help of 23XI Racing, he aimed to change that this year but there were no guarantees. With zero practice, he had to try and qualify for the category's biggest race - the Daytona 500. Somehow, he managed to do just that without any drama. He made the show on qualifying day and went on to be a surprise contender in the closing laps of the big race.
It looked like he might even come away with a top-five finish after escaping the chaos on Sunday, but one awkward push on the final lap sent him sideways down the track. A massive crash ensued, and Pastrana was in the heart of it. The incident ended the 500, but he still managed to regain control of his car and finish 11th in his one and only Cup Series start to date.
Afterwards, Pastrana called it "one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done," and that's something coming from the guy who modelled his entire life path after Evel Knievel.
Source: Autosport