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Israeli racing driver Alon Day was in Florida preparing to compete in the CUBE 3 Architecture Trans Am 2 Series when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in a joint offensive on Saturday.
The former NASCAR driver had a lot on his mind, thinking about his family back home when Iran launched retaliatory actions against countries that have US military bases there.
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Alon Day stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“It’s a bit of a complicated situation. I’m here competing in the United States and at the same time, my wife, my son and everyone are in Israel,” he told Pak Gazette Digital. “It’s very complicated to think about everything. And now, when I’m a new father, I want to be there. I want to be there with my family and everything. It’s extremely nervous being here. My phone is always ringing with alarms of ballistic missiles coming to Israel.
“It’s a little difficult. I’m here on a mission and I’m very happy to have the opportunity to compete here in the United States.”
The joint airstrikes were launched on Saturday and hit several military and nuclear facilities. The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday morning that they launched strikes in the “heart of Tehran,” hitting targets belonging to the Iranian terrorist regime. One of the attacks left Ali Khamenei dead.
Day expressed hope that military operations could bring stability to the Middle East.
Alon Day receives his championship ring during the NASCAR Tour’s Night of Champions at the Charlotte Convention Center on December 8, 2017, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
“Probably yes,” he told Pak Gazette Digital when asked if he thought the region would be more peaceful. “I get so many messages from random Iranians, saying, ‘Thank you Israel, thank you America. We are going through a different era right now.’ Something is changing. We can’t even think about what the implications of losing the war will be. If the Iranian people lose this war, they will have a very hard time with the Iranian regime.
“I feel like this is a good opportunity. But I’m not a politician. I’m not a military man. I’m just a racing driver. I’m on a mission and the mission is to win races as much as possible for JSSI and bring the Israeli flag here and show how great allies Israel and the United States are together.”
Day, who has spent time on the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series circuits, said he had no plans to scrap his 2026 season.
“Listen, I was born in 1991, the Gulf War. I’ve been through the Intifada, Hamas, Hezbollah, everything,” he explained. “Every person in Israel grew up in these types of war situations. It’s very sad to say that, but we are used to it and we need to live with it.
“And it is what it is. I think now, specifically now, it’s for a good reason.”
Day praised the US and Israeli militaries for their actions.
Loris Hezemans, driver of the #50 Hendriks Motorsport, Alon Day, driver of the #24 Carsport and Nicolo Rocca, driver of the #22 DF1 Racing pose on stage after the PRO FRACASSO NASCAR GP of Croatia race on November 15, 2020, at the Grobnik Circuit in Rijeka, Croatia. (Goran Kovacic/Pixsell/MB Media/Getty Images)
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“I want to also take this opportunity to thank the American military and the Israeli military for what they are doing to keep us safe and for a better future fighting evil.
“I think everything is for a bright future in front of us. I really want to take the opportunity and thank everyone, every person who is fighting against the Iranian regime. It’s for a good reason, so I really want to thank them.”
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