Amazing start to the season for Thomas Krasonis with a double victory and first place in the standings!

Thomas Krasonis couldn’t have imagined a better start to his sixth NASCAR Euro Series season! The first Greek professional racing driver finished the three-day race in triumphant fashion at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, celebrating the first victory of his career in the PRO class of the NASCAR Euro Series!

Starting from the first position on the grid, Krasonis masterfully managed the rolling start procedure and despite the pressure he was under in the first corners from the highly experienced Yvan Muller, he stayed in the lead and gradually increased his gap up to five seconds! Despite the fact that halfway through the race there was a yellow flag all over the track, Krasonis was not affected, maintained his pace as the race continued and was the first to see the chequered flag!

The victory takes on even greater significance, due to the development of the OPEN class race that preceded it. This is because Krasonis, again starting from pole position, was hit from behind in the first corner, resulting in a tête-à-tête and a 15th place finish. Nevertheless, he didn’t lose his concentration and tried to climb up the standings, but nine laps from the end he pitted so that his mechanics could quickly repair the bonnet of the car, which had been damaged by the impact. He returned to the race and finished 18th.

“First of all, I would like to thank my sponsors, Costamare and Dodoni. Of course my coach Alon Day, my family, my team owner, the guys from PK, my friends, everyone who has been by my side over the years. Without them, none of this would have come to fruition,” said an emotional Krasonis. He added: “It’s been six years in this league and in 24 hours we have achieved two wins! We broke every record here this weekend and I hope we can make it to the title at the end of the season, always with hard work and above all humility.”

Krasoni’s win put him at the top of both the overall PRO and Junior Trophy standings for drivers aged 25 and under, with 75 points.

Thomas Krasonis is again competing in both the PRO and OREN divisions of the NASCAR Euro Series this year, driving the number “13” Chevrolet Camaro of the Championship’s top team, Belgian PK Carsport, in all races.

Supporters of Thomas Krasoni’s efforts in the NASCAR Euro Series are Costamare Shipping Company and Dodoni Dairy.

The second round of the NASCAR Euro Series will be held on the weekend of 17 and 18 May at the Valelunga circuit in Italy.

Thomas Krasonis made history in Valencia with his first NASCAR Euro Series victory!

Thomas Krasonis made history in the season-opening NASCAR Euro Series race at the Valencia circuit. The first Greek professional racing driver celebrated the first victory of his six-year NASCAR Euro Series career, fulfilling a big dream. 23-year-old Thomas became the first Greek driver to win a NASCAR Euro Series race with a dominant performance in the OPEN class race.

Krasonis had to fight hard to win the 15-lap race in Valencia. He initially lost the lead to the speedy Claudio Remigio Cappelli, but waited patiently and on lap 5 he made his move into the first corner, took the lead and never looked back. In fact, he had such a gap that he was not really threatened in either FCY session due to accidents on the track.

“I’m sure this is just the beginning!” said a happy Krasonis shortly after his big win. “Thanks to my sponsors, Alon Day, my PK team, my personal trainer and everyone who has been with me through this project. We came into the opening race very well prepared, so all I can say is that winning doesn’t come easy. I made a small mistake with the late braking at the start, but I will learn from it. It’s a good experience for the PRO class race, where I need to do even better. I don’t have anything else to say, it was a great Saturday.”

As for Saturday’s PRO race, Thomas started from third place, but very soon he was second and stayed very close to Paul Jouffreau throughout the 18 laps, making several attempts to pass him. The fall of the chequered flag found the Greek driver in second place in the standings. In short, the first Saturday of the season ended with a double podium in Valencia!

Double pole position on Sunday!

So on Sunday he will start both races from pole position, which is extremely rare in the NASCAR Euro Series! On Sunday, the start of the second race of the OPEN will be at 12.05 pm (local time) and will be 15 laps or 40′ plus one lap. The curtain will fall at 3.30 pm with the start of the second PRO race, which will be 18 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap. ANT1+ will bring its subscribers all the action from the two races, with a Greek commentary! At the same time, there will be live coverage via the official EuroNASCAR YouTube channel
Thomas Krasonis participates in both the PRO and OPEN NASCAR Euro Series classes this year, driving in all races the number “13” Chevrolet Camaro of the Championship’s top team, the Belgian PK Carsport.
Supporters of Thomas Krasoni’s efforts in the NASCAR Euro Series are Costamare Shipping Company and Dodoni Dairy.

Krasonis: “Our goal is a strong start to the season”

After intensive preparation, with many hours in the gym under the guidance of Paul Tymbas, and following a specialised diet in order to be able to cope with the increased demands of this year’s Championship, Thomas Krasonis is ready to take on the battle of this year’s NASCAR Euro Series.

“We have come to Spain with a lot of excitement for the first race of the year. I feel completely ready with myself and I have complete confidence in my team. Our goal is a strong start to the championship!” the Greek driver stresses. He adds: “During the winter, together with Paul and his colleagues we worked very hard to improve all areas of fitness. And not only! Combined with the special diet I have been following, I feel ready to meet the increased demands of the season ahead. Our task is difficult, but the goal is clear. After all, as I said last year, there is a five-year plan underway, at the end of which we want to be in the United States and the NASCAR Cup Series.”

And he concluded: “I want to thank everyone who is close to me in this effort. First and foremost my sponsors, Costamare Shipping Company and Dodoni Dairy, who are making a great contribution to ensure that this journey continues to be a success. And of course the Antenna Group, who are embracing my efforts this year by broadcasting live all NASCAR Euro Series races.”

The exciting journey to the NASCAR Euro Series 2025 begins!

The time has come for Thomas Krasonis! The first Greek professional racing driver is already in Valencia, where this weekend the curtain opens on this year’s NASCAR Euro Series championship.

The 14th NASCAR season on the Old Continent is destined to be the most impressive in every respect. A total of 24 teams have signed up for the season opener, with drivers and teams representing 19 nations from around the world.

The V8 engines will roar once again and spectators in the stands of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit will be treated to an exciting Championship premiere, full of thrills and spills!

The 4,005-metre-long track consists of 14 corners and one of the longest straights, 876 meters long, which will be the backdrop to the action in this first round of the Championship. Thomas Krasonis will again this year compete in both PRO and OPEN NASCAR Euro Series classes, driving in all races the number “13” Chevrolet Camaro of the Championship’s leading team, the Belgian PK Carsport.

Supporters of Thomas Krasoni’s effort in the NASCAR Euro Series are Costamare Shipping Company and the “Dodoni” Dairy Industry.

 

The programme of the three-day event

The racing program starts with the free practice sessions at noon on Friday. The first PRO freestyle starts at 3 p.m. and OPEN at 3.45 p.m., while the second freestyle will be held at 5.15 p.m. for PRO and 6 p.m. for OPEN.

Saturday’s schedule begins with PRO qualifying starting at 11 a.m. and each driver will have the opportunity to complete two fast laps. This will be followed by OPEN qualifying at 11.55am. The first PRO race will start at 3.30pm and will be 18 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap. The corresponding first race of the OPEN will start at 6.15 pm and will have a duration of 15 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap.

On Sunday, the second race of the OPEN will start at 12.05 p.m. and will be 15 laps or 40 minutes plus one lap. The curtain will drop on the three-day event at 3.30pm with the start of the second PRO race, which will be 18 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap.

All the aforementioned times are Greek.

All the action of the 2025 season “live” from ANT1+

Last year’s great success of Thomas Krasonis, combined with the ever-increasing interest in the Championship in our country, has resulted in the first time in Greek television history that we have live broadcasts of the EuroNASCAR races! ANT1+ subscriber’s platform will broadcast to its subscribers all the action from both Saturday and Sunday’s races, with a description in Greek!

The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series calendar

The racing season kicks off on the weekend of 12-13 April at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which will host the Spanish race for the eleventh time.

The Italian race will be the second of the season, as it will be held at the Autodromo di Vallelunga on 17-18 May.

The Brands Hatch circuit will host the British round of EuroNASCAR on 7-8 June, while three weeks later, on 28-29 June, the half-mile oval at Raceway Venray will host the Dutch race. This will also be the only race on an oval track outside of America.

After the summer break, EuroNASCAR action will resume on 30 and 31 August at the Autodrom Most for the Czech race. This exciting weekend will conclude the regular season and determine the standings before the Playoffs, as all drivers will “throw away” their two worst results.

EuroNASCAR will kick off the Playoffs in Germany for the semi-finals on September 20-21 at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.

The season will conclude in Belgium at Circuit Zolder on 11-12 October. The legendary circuit in the Limburg Forest will host the EuroNASCAR Finals for the eighth time with four NASCAR races that will be exciting to crown the NASCAR champion as well as the winners of the cups and trophies.

Thomas Krasonis and PK Carsport join forces for the 2025 EuroNASCAR season!

After a successful 2024 season, Thomas Krasonis has signed a contract with PK Carsport for the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series to do double duty and compete in both the PRO and OPEN championships. The Greek will take the wheel of the #13 Chevrolet Camaro fielded by the top team led by two-time EuroNASCAR Champion Anthony Kumpen. Krasonis’ goal is to win the OPEN championship and become a top 5 driver in the PRO division. The 23-year-old recently announced his plans to the media in Athens and also took a ride in a EuroNASCAR car in his home country.

“The goals are clear after last season: I want to win the OPEN championship and finish in the top 5 in the PRO division,” said Krasonis, who will also be eligible for the Junior Trophy in PRO. “I will focus on each race in both championships, there’s no priority for me. I want to be a contender in both championships and fight for trophies. I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to the new season with PK Carsport and I’m grateful for their trust. I’m sure we can achieve our goals together as I have the support of Anthony Kumpen and Alon Day, both champions in the series. I also thank my sponsors Costamare Shipping and Dodoni, without them this whole project would not be possible.”

Team Principal Kumpen is delighted to have Krasonis on the Belgian top team’s roster for the 2025 campaign. “We are happy to have Thomas on board,” he said. “He showed really good progress last season, as he was on the podium several times in the second half of the season. He should be a contender for the OPEN championship. He has a really good coach in Alon Day. We have won championships with Alon and myself at PK Carsport. With the progress he has made and the experience we have as a team, the title has to be his. I’m looking forward to this collaboration, it will be a strong car with a new number, the #13. The driver likes the number 13, but I like it too. We will be running a second car, but that will be announced later.”

PK Carsport has won a total of five PRO championships with Kumpen, Day and Vittorio Ghirelli. In addition, Stienes Longin put his name on the OPEN trophy in 2016. The Belgian squad is one of the most successful and experienced teams in the paddock. Therefore, Krasonis will certainly have a lot of pressure to perform well, but also a strong car to achieve his goals and chase his dream of becoming a European NASCAR Champion.

NASCAR thrills Greece: A landmark debut at Megara Circuit

Three days of thrilling on-track action and engaging off-track promotional activities marked the NASCAR Euro Series’ historic first appearance in Greece. Team FJ, founder, owner and organizer of the official European NASCAR championship brought two cars to Athens and the Megara Circuit for testing and promotional activities alongside Greek driver Thomas Krasonis, one of the championship’s rising stars. The initiative was met with resounding success.

Friday marked a historic moment as a NASCAR car hit the track in Greece for the first time. Thomas Krasonis and NASCAR Euro Series President and CEO Jerome Galpin showcased the thunderous EuroNASCAR V8 machine around the Megara Circuit.

During a press conference, Krasonis announced his 2025 NASCAR Euro Series campaign with powerhouse team PK Carsport. The 23-year-old has been appointed NASCAR Euro Series ambassador in Greece.

“I can only say that I am proud of this achievement and that I never thought in the beginning of my journey with the NASCAR Euro Series that I would arrive at this point.”, said Krasonis, who will pilot the #13 Chevrolet Camaro in both the PRO and OPEN championships. “I managed to achieve a dream of mine by bringing EuroNASCAR to Greece and the people who followed the event were amazed by the car! I am glad that the NASCAR Euro Series got positive feedback in Greece and I hope that we can have a race in my country in the future. As the series ambassador in Greece I will try my best to make the people of Greece super fans of the championship!”

80 passengers between media, sponsors and guests enjoyed the unfiltered thrill of the EuroNASCAR car’s unique character.

With the April 12-13 season opener at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo approaching, the car, equipped with the new Samsonas 5-speed sequential gearbox flawlessly completed over 530 Km on track, further validating the reliability and accessibility of the European NASCAR machine.

Krasonis: “The Championship was completed as it should have been!”

After a highly strenuous season, which had started at the beginning of 2024 with intensive preparation and participation in the New Smyrna races in the United States, the curtain came down in Zolder for Thomas Krasonis.
“The EuroNASCAR championship has come to an end as it should! I want to thank my team, Marko Stipp Motorsport, for the technical support they provided me with all season and for their confidence in me. Thanks to Alon Day for coaching me, believing in me and helping me to improve. Thanks to my sponsors, COSTAMARE SHIPPING and Dodoni S.A. for the immediate and practical support they have provided me. Thanks to my coach Paul Tymba and the entire OAKA athlete training team for taking on the task of getting me in the right physical condition for this season. Thank you to my family, the people who love me and my true friends for their support! After 32 races in Europe and the US my racing season is complete. See you next year, always aiming for the ultimate. All the best to you all!” said Thomas Krasonis.

Thomas Krasonis is in third place in the final standings in EuroNASCAR 2, Junior PRO and Endurance Team

It was a triumphant finish to this year’s season for Thomas Krasonis, who closed the NASCAR Euro Whelen season in the best possible way, with multiple podium finishes in the grand final at Zolder.
The first Greek professional racing driver, gave his best in the four races of the weekend, climbing twice on the winners’ podium and finishing the season in third place in the EuroNASCAR 2, Junior PRO and Endurance Team standings!
This is a very big success, given that EuroNASCAR involves drivers with many years of presence in the event, which raises the level of competition dramatically. And this, moreover, was evident throughout the season, with the battles on the tracks being spectacular!
In the EuroNASCAR 2 category, Thomas Krasonis had a double presence on the podium, as he was third on both Saturday and Sunday. In Saturday’s race he started from fifth position, moved smartly and strategically and at the right moment gained two places, moving up to the winners’ podium. He started from fifth position on Sunday, with a similar development of the race, as the fall of the chequered flag found him again on the third step of the podium.
In the first EuroNASCAR PRO race, Thomas started from 19th on the grid and finished 14th, while in Sunday’s race he was 15th on the grid, coming very close to the podium, occupying fourth place in the final standings.
After the completion of the last race weekend of the season, therefore, Thomas Krasonis is third in the final EuroNASCAR 2 standings with 510 points, with the title going to Martin Doubek who scored 568 points. Second was Patrick Schober with 525.
In EuroNASCAR PRO Thomas finished the season in eighth place in the standings with 442 points, with Champion Vittorio Ghirelli scoring 555 points. In the Junior PRO individual standings for drivers up to 25 years old, Thomas Crasonis is third, behind Paul Jouffreau and Liam Hezemans. Finally, in the EuroNASCAR Endurance Team Championship he is in third place with 279 points, behind Patrick Schober and Gil Linster.
We recall that Thomas Krasonis participated this year in both EuroNASCAR categories, EuroNASCAR 2 and EuroNASCAR PRO, with the team with which in 2023 he made the big step in his racing career, Marko Stipp Motorsport.
Thomas drove the number “46” Chevrolet Camaro on all the Championship circuits this year, following a full schedule.
All the action of each race weekend can be followed through the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel
Supporters of Thomas Krasoni’s effort in the NASCAR Euro Whelen are Costamare Shipping Company and the “Dodoni” Dairy Industry.