Kamui Kobayashi’s second NASCAR race ended disappointingly in 29th place due to multiple incidents. The NASCAR Cup series race at COTA was filled with intense competition among drivers. Two Toyota drivers, Christopher Bell from Joe Gibbs Racing and Kamui Kobayashi from 23XI Racing, were involved in several aggressive encounters throughout the day.
Kobayashi, a renowned Japanese Supercars racing legend, made his second-ever NASCAR Cup start on Sunday. However, he struggled to make an impression as the aggressive nature of the NASCAR field proved challenging for him. He had multiple clashes with drivers from Stewart Haas Racing and JTDG Racing.
During the race, Kobayashi was racing behind Josh Berry and approaching Turn 11. He maneuvered his Toyota through the middle, causing the No:4 Ford to slow down. However, as the No:50 Camary turned into the corner, Berry bumped into Kobayashi from behind, resulting in a 180-degree spin.
Kobayashi ultimately finished the race in 29th place, while Berry had an even worse result, securing only 35th place and becoming the worst-performing driver from SHR that day. Brad Keselowski also had a subpar finish, coming in 33rd, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. achieved a better result than Kobayashi, finishing in 28th place.
Fans on social media platforms were quick to react to a video of the incident shared by NASCAR’s official page. Many expressed their disappointment with Kobayashi’s aggressive racing throughout the COTA race and believed he deserved more respect on the track.
Some fans also questioned Berry’s lackluster performance as Kobayashi’s replacement in 2024. They believed his aggression towards Kobayashi stemmed from his own frustrations. However, it was pointed out that Kobayashi’s treatment on the track, both at Indy and COTA, seemed unfair and excessively aggressive. As a legendary figure in motorsport, such harsh treatment is not beneficial for the sport. If Kobayashi were to make a third start in NASCAR, fans hope that such incidents would not occur again.