A U.S. manufacturer of mineral-infused beverages says its company is proud to be the exclusive title sponsor for a Jewish NASCAR driver who did most of his training on computer simulators, rather than a race track.
But Alon Day, 25, is no slouch on the track, despite having grown up in Ashdod — where the only race track he ever saw as a kid was on his video games.
His childhood long since over, Day put in his time on race tracks in Europe before reaching for the top in the United States, where eventually he found it was far easier to find commercial sponsorships.
This Sunday he’ll be driving Car Number 23 for the BK Racing Team at Sonoma Raceway in southern California as the first Israeli ever to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, a top NASCAR touring series.
Day is being sponsored by EarthWater, which said its sponsorship “goes in line with our goals to promote diversity and community, as well as healthy living.”
The company added that Day’s “trail-blazing achievements (Alon has also been one of Israel’s ‘Athletes of the Year’) serve as a beacon in today’s conflicting world,” and asked consumers in its statement to “help us recognize him and these fundamental values.”
Day’s car on Sunday will race with stickers of the Israeli flag, and he’ll be wearing the Magen David on his left arm and on his belt when he hits the race track.