Kamui Kobayashi discusses NASCAR future after Ricky Stenhouse Jr bumped him second year in a row

Following his ‘spinning’ debut last year at the Indiana Motor Speedway, Kamui Kobayashi was back in the NASCAR actions with his second Cup Series race at COTA. However, Sunday’s race was even frustrating and ‘bumpier’ for the Japanese racer, as he got spun not just once, but twice, by his fellow competitors.

As the race concluded, Kamui Kobayashi came out with some ‘surprising’ revelations about his future in NASCAR, after suffering yet another bump from Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Kamui Kobayashi addresses Ricky Stenhouse Jr incident

Kamui Kobayashi, who debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023, started his second stint with 23XI Racing at the Sunday race in the 2024 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. He started the race from the 25th position of the COTA’s starting grid and was headed to a good start. But fate had other plans for him, as he found himself bumped by JTG Daugherty’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The 23XI part-timer can easily recall Ricky Stenhouse from last year’s Verizon 200 race, where Stenhouse bumped his Chevy Camaro with the Japanese’ No. 50 Toyota Camry XSE and left the racer spinning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fast forward to yesterday’s race, Kobayashi jumped his way to the 18th position on Lap 25, after restarting 25th in Stage 2. However, during Lap 26, Stenhouse ‘bumped’ into the scene and sent him spinning, again—for the second year in a row.

However, the ‘bumping’ American was also left spinning as he caught Kobayashi’s car while trying to flee past him. This bump resulted in his No. 50 Camry XSE losing its spot inside the top-20.

While he was definitely struggling to keep up in the race, Kobayashi expressed his innocence on his encounter with Stenhouse, saying that he didn’t play any wrong moves to get that ‘bumping’ shot from the American.

In a post-race interview with Frontstretch, the Japanese revealed exactly this, and blamed Ricky Stenhouse for deliberately hitting him. “No, I have nothing to say,” he told.

“I mean, if they have an explanation, I think they have an explanation because I didn’t do anything wrong. He just hit me,” he added, concluding on Stenhouse’s bumping act.

Later in the race, after the final pit stop, Kobayashi was again in the whirlwind of another bump, when he was running in the 16th position. This time, he found himself spun by Haas’ Josh Berry with 16 laps remaining in the race.

These frustrating words (after two bumps in one race) from Kobayashi comes right before he opened up on his future with 23XI Racing in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series.

Kamui Kobayashi talks on NASCAR future

During the same interview, Kamui Kobayashi, who also races in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing, expressed his gratitude to 23XI Racing for this opportunity to race in the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA.

He also admitted to having no further race schedules with the team in the 2024 Cup Series Championship. “No, I think no plans yet. But I’m sure we have opportunities I want to enjoy,” he confessed.

The 37-year-old also thanked the NASCAR community and his 23XI Racing team. “I definitely enjoy and thanks to NASCAR and everybody supporting. This time, Mobil 1, and of course TRD and 23XI [Racing,]” he said.

“Everybody helped me to bring me here. I think all of the preparation has been done. It’s great,” he further added.

In the interview, he also touched up on his result and compared it with the 2023 one. He reflected, “The result didn’t come up. But with short notice, and short practice, I definitely think we did good compared to ’23.”

On Sunday’s race, the Japanese Kobayashi crossed the chequered flag with a disappointing P29 finish, while his ‘bumping’ rivals Stenhouse and Josh Berry managed a P28 and P35 spot in the leaderboard. This is a good improvement from his ’23 run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he finished in the 33rd position.

As for now, Kamui Kobayashi will return to Toyota Gazoo Racing for their FIA WEC adventures, while 23XI Racing takes part in next weekend’s Toyota Owners 400 race.

Will Kobayashi return to 23XI Racing in the 2024 season? If so, should he return back Stenhouse’s favor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.