Alon Day, the driver of the #23 Best Bully Sticks Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 21, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 brings another first for Israeli driver Alon Day, who already holds the distinction as the first driver from his country to compete in any of NASCAR’s top-three touring series.

Day will make his oval-track debut in the second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race when he drives the No. 23 BK Racing Toyota at Richmond Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

A road-course specialist and the reigning NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion, Day finished 32nd in his only other start in NASCAR’s premier series (last year at Sonoma). His objective on Saturday is simply to finish the race.

“I don’t expect for any result—top-25, top-30 or whatever,” Day said. “I’m more trying to focus about surviving the race, finishing the race without making major mistakes, learning as much as possible, being obviously approved for the next tracks. Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

Day’s career goal is to race full-time in a NASCAR series in the United States, but for now, he has to settle for an occasional race that doesn’t conflict with his NWES title defense.

“First of all, I would love to do the Roval (Charlotte road course) next week,” Day said. “That’s who I am. I come from road courses. I know I’m good at that. That’s the best opportunity for me to show what I’m capable of doing.”

Day also said he’s trying to work out opportunities to race at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami Speedway in the final two events on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule.