Bring out the broom: Alon Day sweeps the weekend

Alon Day (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) had a perfect weekend in Valencia for the 2018 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season opener. After winning on Saturday, Day also won an eventful second round of the ELITE 1 Division. The Tel-Aviv resident grabbed his 12th career Euro NASCAR win by beating Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) to the line by 0.628 seconds after two restarts.

Including the 2017 playoffs, Day has won five out of the last six NWES races.  

ELITE 1 ROUND 1 RESULTS | ELITE 2 ROUND 1 RESULTS | ELITE 1 ROUND 2 RESULTS | ELITE 2 ROUND 2 RESULTS

“I could not ask for a better way to finish the weekend,” said Day, who inherited the lead on lap 2 after a huge crash between Loris Hezemans (#50 Hendriks Motorsport Ford Mustang) and race leader Marc Goossens (#91 Braxx Racing Ford Mustang). “Sometimes you just need some luck and the luck was on our side today. Our team did a great job. The car is fantastic. When I had the lead I was able to stay out front. It’s a great way to open the season. I am happy for CAAL Racing and we have now five wins in six races. I think that it’s a great record.”

“It was a pretty hectic race,” said Kumpen, whose PK Carsport team was put to test to repair the #24 Chevrolet after the ELITE 2 race. “The car felt really good. If you start from fifth and finish second it’s good because this is a really tight championship, it is not easy. I am pleased with the results we got this weekend. Finishing third and second after the difficult start we had is very positive. I know we can fight for the championship this year.”

Frederic Gabillon (#3 RDV Competition Toyota Camry) earned another strong podium finish at the Ricardo Tormo, by crossing the finish line 2.353 seconds behind Day. Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) came from eighth to fourth, while Borja Garcia (#1 Alex Caffi Motorsport Ford Mustang) closed the top-5 on his home track. Romain Iannetta (#32 GO Fas Racing Ford Mustang) scored the first ELITE 1 top-10 in Euro NASCAR for the GO Fas Racing team.

Gianmarco Ercoli (#9 Racers Motorsport Ford Mustang) completed a huge comeback from 15th on the grid to seventh under the checkered flag and won the Junior Trophy classification. NASCAR Cup Champion Bobby Labonte (#18 RDV Competition Toyota Camry) continued his progress with another consistent performance: after starting 14th on the grid, the Texas-native closed the Valencia weekend in 8th place. Wilfried Boucenna (#73 Knauf Racing Ford Mustang) grabbed the Challenger Trophy ahead of Lucas Lasserre (#33 Mishumotors Chevrolet SS), who closed the Top 10 after a difficult start.

Martin Doubek (#5 Renauer Motorsport Ford Mustang) was eleventh and second in Junior Trophy ahead of Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Ford Mustang) who took the last spot on the Junior Trophy podium. Jerry de Weerdt (#78 Braxx Racing Ford Mustang) crossed the finish line in 15th and secured the second place in the Challenger Trophy ahead of Mauro Trione (#31 Race Art Blu Motorsport Ford Mustang). The Italian scored his first Challenger Trophy podium in his NASCAR debut.

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will now head to Franciacorta for Round 3 and 4 of the 2018 championship with Alon Day leading the standings with eleven points on Gabillon and Kumpen.

NASCAR Euro Series PR