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John Hunter Nemechek shows off IMSA ride during Session 1 with Bubba Wallace, Corey Heim

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 1/19/24

Folks IMSA cars have already taken to the track at Daytona International Superspeedway and that includes Bubba Wallace and his Smooge Racing team. Teammates, NASCAR drivers Corey Heim and John Hunter Nemechek were also behind the wheel of the No. 23 Toyota Supra GT4 EVO.

These NASCAR drivers are just getting their feel for this car and this track. Heim might have the most road course talent out of the Toyota trio. For Wallace and Nemechek, this is going to be even more of a learning experience.

The Cup Series is not just focusing on road and street courses more, but NASCAR itself seems to be filling up with these kinds of drivers. So, you have to keep up with the pace.

In Session 1, Heim would drive around a lap in just over two minutes and five seconds. As of the writing of this article, Bubba Wallace and John Hunter Nemechek don’t have an official lap time.

While the time from Heim was the slowest of the drivers that turned a lap, it’s just the first session. Also, the car looks amazing as you can see in this video from Nemechek.

First session.@ToyotaRacing | @mobil1racing | @SmoogeRacing pic.twitter.com/IFfrdMNolS
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) January 19, 2024

That is a clean ride that those Toyota NASCAR drivers are getting to wheel around. The main point of all of this, there are cars on the track and racing is just around the corner. These drivers will tackle the Michelin Pilot Challenge on January 26.

Over the last couple of seasons, Bubba Wallace has improved his road course racing. This feels like another step in that progression. We will see how he is able to do in the four-hour race he will take part in with Nemechek and Heim.

Bubba Wallace ready to go road course racing

Earlier this week, Wallace noted that his bus was heading south. That only meant one thing, racing is upon us. In the words of Wallace “It’s about that time folks.” IMSA is on the track, ARCA was on track last week, and NASCAR will soon be on the track as well.

Daytona is going to be home for Wallace and his fellow NASCAR drivers these next few weeks. Of course, the Cup Series guys will have to go out to Los Angeles for the Busch Light Clash. But for now, Daytona is going to be home base.

Speaking of Daytona, it is a track (at least the oval) where Wallace has done well. He has finished P2 in the Daytona 500 twice, still searching for that elusive win. Coming off his career-best season in the Cup Series, Wallace will have his eyes on big prizes in 2024.

Working with Heim and Nemechek in this IMSA event will be good for Bubba Wallace. It will be good for all three drivers. Those who can keep working on their craft over time and find ways to get better, generally do get better.

What do you think this Smooge Racing team will do at Daytona? Is this going to be a true effort from these drivers or just hot laps around the road course for a while?

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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