James Davison will not be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Talladega on Sunday.
Despite being announced as the driver for the No. 77 car earlier in the week, Davison has decided not to participate in the race. This decision comes after NASCAR informed him that they had to reconsider their position on superspeedways, given the lack of practice and qualifying sessions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While Davison has experience in other racing series such as the Indianapolis 500 and IMSA, he has never raced on an oval in NASCAR. Without the opportunity to practice or qualify before the race, it was deemed too risky for Davison to make his debut at Talladega.
Instead, B.J. McLeod will be racing the No. 77 car in Davison’s place. The team is looking forward to seeing Davison make his series debut at Pocono next weekend.
Entry lists for NASCAR races are typically finalized weeks in advance, and the decision to prevent Davison from racing at Talladega should have been made earlier to avoid confusion among fans. While his experience in IndyCar and sports car racing may have been enough to pre-approve him for Pocono, NASCAR ultimately decided it was best for him to sit out at Talladega.
It’s worth noting that the No. 77 car has had success in the past, winning the 2019 July race at Daytona. However, the chances of another victory on Sunday are slim, given the competitive field and the lack of experience for the replacement driver.
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Written by Nick Bromberg for Yahoo Sports.
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