Last week, NBC had their first NASCAR race weekend of the 2019 season. Taking over the second half of the season, NBC will be broadcasting the final 20 races of the Cup season on either NBC or NBCSN.
For Independence Day weekend, NBC is doing something special for their Daytona broadcast weekend. The network has brought on Lieutenant Commander and NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji for this weekend’s race.
Iwuji revealed the news on Instagram and will be out and about in the studio as well as pit road throughout the race weekend.
Iwuji’s has one of the most incredible stories in the NASCAR garage. Going to college at the Naval Academy, Iwuji played free safety for the Midshipmen. While he was in college, Iwuji got a taste of NASCAR racing and has been chasing a dream of being a race car driver.
After graduating, Iwuji served in the Navy for seven years, working as a surface warfare officer and being stationed on the USS Comstock. Iwuji has since joined the Naval Reserve and was just recently promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
As he’s serving his country, Iwuji has tried to carry on a racing career. Taking on whatever opportunity that has come his way, Iwuji has primarily raced in ARCA and the K&N regional racing series, trying to gain experience. Iwuji has raced part time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, finishing a career best 17th at Texas in March.
Iwuji has started his career later than most other drivers and he hasn’t been able to get as much track time as his competitors but Iwuji is learning the ropes whenever he can. By being on NBC’s broadcast, Iwuji is going to get a different perspective of the NASCAR experience, provide his own perspective of somebody who is serving in the military as well as driving a race car, and get an opportunity to share his story to a prime time audience. Who knows, maybe being on NBC’s broadcast will make a sponsor aware of Jesse Iwuji’s story and want to support him in his NASCAR career.
[Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images]