DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Colton Herta will symbolize america in subsequent weekend’s worldwide Race of Champions because the alternative for injured driver Travis Pastrana.

Pastrana stated this week he broke his again and hip in a BASE leaping accident.

Herta will take his place alongside seven-time NASCAR champion and present IndyCar driver Jimmie Johnson. The ROC “Snow + Ice” World Remaining might be held subsequent weekend in Pite Havsbad, Sweden, on the frozen Baltic Sea, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Herta’s father, Bryan, informed The Related Press his 21-year-old son spent a part of this week researching the warmest jacket to pack for the enterprise. He’ll compete for the “Champion of Champions” title in particular person ROC competitors, and be part of Johnson on Staff USA within the ROC Nations Cup.

“You prepared for some racing within the snow?” Johnson tweeted to Herta on Friday.

The sphere additionally consists of Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher, Tom Kristensen, Sebastien Loeb, Mika Hakkinen, Valtteri Bottas and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

Herta stated that is “not the way in which I needed to be drafted” into his first Race of Champions.

“What an incredible alternative to affix Race Of Champions for the primary time,” stated Herta, a six-race winner via his first three seasons in IndyCar. “It comes with sorrow as I fill in for Travis, and I want him a speedy and full restoration.”

Each Johnson and Herta are racing this weekend within the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. Herta might be in IMSA’s LMP2 class for the occasion for the primary time in his quick profession.

The budding star has stated he desires to strive as many alternative types of motorsports as potential, and Herta was in place to maneuver to System One if Michael Andretti had been profitable final 12 months in buying a group.

Johnson teamed with Jeff Gordon and MotoGP star Colin Edwards in 2002 to win the ROC Nations Cup title in Gran Canaria, Spain. It was Staff USA’s final title within the worldwide occasion by which high racers from all over the world face off in a winner-take-all competitors.

It was thought of an upset victory as Johnson and Gordon grew to become the primary NASCAR drivers to win the ROC Nations Cup. They beat defending champion Staff Spain, and the win opened ROC Nations Cup to extra American participation.