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IndyCar’s Conor Daly to compete on NBC’s ‘American Ninja Warrior’

By Brittany Frederick

Jun 25, 2016; Elkhart Lake, WI, USA; IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly (18) during practice for the KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2016; Elkhart Lake, WI, USA; IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly (18) during practice for the KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Conor Daly is the fourth Verizon IndyCar Series driver to try his hand at NBC’s ‘American Ninja Warrior’ as he’ll compete in a San Antonio qualifier.

Conor Daly already has coolness points for being a Verizon IndyCar Series driver, but now he’s trying to add ninja to his resume. Daly threw his hat in the ring for the upcoming season of NBC‘s American Ninja Warrior.

IndyCar announced that Daly, who just started his second full-time IndyCar season for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, is participating in this weekend’s San Antonio qualifier for Season 9 of the athletic competition series.

The 25-year-old Indiana native is expected to make his ANW qualifying run sometime on Sunday evening. It will then be shown as part of the episode airing Monday, June 19 on NBC.

“When I got the call saying it was a possibility for me to compete on ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ I was pretty stoked,” Daly said in a press release. “After seeing my fellow Verizon IndyCar Series drivers compete last year, it looked like a lot of fun.

“I haven’t had the chance to do much ninja training yet, but since we are already in season I’m pretty happy with my physical fitness level,” he continued. “I certainly was not born a nimble ninja, I’ve always been a bigger guy, so this should definitely be interesting.”

Daly was a spectator last year when his colleagues Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Josef Newgarden competed on American Ninja Warrior. If you missed that episode, you can watch their highlights below:

Though Castroneves, Kanaan and Newgarden weren’t able to advance in the American Ninja Warrior bracket when they competed in Indianapolis, they did have advice for Conor Daly as he tries to break that barrier.

Next: IndyCar standings after Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

“Take your time, don’t rush into the next obstacle,” said Castroneves, the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner who drives for Team Penske. “Observe the others that are able to pass through. Don’t focus on only one stage. That was my mistake last year.

“You should be thinking about the other ones. I was so worried about the first two that I forgot the third one. So if he can see all the stages and look through those things, hopefully he can do really well.”

Daly competing on ANW continues a recent string of television appearances for IndyCar drivers. Daly’s housemate James Hinchcliffe finished as the runner-up in the most recently completed season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, while several stars participated in an episode of ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud.

In fact, Conor Daly’s episode of American Ninja Warrior will air just days before NBC’s sister channel NBC Sports Network broadcasts coverage of IndyCar’s Kohler Grand Prix from Road America on Sunday, June 26.

Castroneves—who also appeared on Family Feud and twice on Dancing with the Stars, including one Mirrorball Trophy—was glib when he discussed IndyCar’s rising presence on TV.

“It helps people who are not race fans see not only that drivers are athletes and able to do other things than driving a race car, but they can actually see the personality of each individual,” he said in the press release.

“We all are able to demonstrate that we don’t need to be punching people to get attention.”

Conor Daly will appear on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior on Monday, June 26. For the latest news throughout the IndyCar paddock and around it, visit the Motor Sports category at FanSided here.