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Why NASCAR Must Stop Playing Catch-Up to Earn Global Respect
What’s next for NASCAR?
Firstly, maybe it’s high time they need to commit to one thing; either go all international and put a stop to it. And, as per reports, the sports body is already on the move. Earlier this year, Adam Stern hinted that ‘The Clash’ could potentially be held in Brazil in the foreseeable future, a step in the right direction for the stock car racing series.
Secondly, NASCAR’s ABB integration for hybrid or EV should come into play now, more than ever. And, they should be on the same page as manufacturers who want their racing programs to align with their showroom products.
Lastly, it’s the driver pool. Maybe NASCAR needs to attract more globally recognized motorsports stars to compete in the Cup Series, which would not only improve the competition but also show the world that the stock car racing series isn’t just an American sport.
It’s a discipline that reflects diversity from across the world. Sure, the inclusion of Shane van Gisbergen and Katherine Legge is a step in the right direction, but promoting rising talent like the Truck Series’ Andrés Pérez de Lara and NASCAR Euro Series driver Thomas Krasonis can go a long way.
By Saad Rashid
Why NASCAR Must Stop Playing Catch-Up to Earn Global Respect
Fastest Man in UK Thomas Krasonis Breaks Brands Hatch Lap Record
Thomas Krasonis said that his feat of breaking Ander Vilariño’s 13-year old lap record at Brands Hatch is proof that his speed improves “every single time I hit the track”.
EuroNASCAR’s longest standing lap record was shattered in American SpeedFest 12. Ander Vilariño’s 13-year old lap record at Brands Hatch was beaten by a driver that has been making a lot of impressions in the 2025 EuroNASCAR season: Thomas Krasonis.
Krasonis shattered the lap record in Sunday’s EuroNASCAR OPEN race with a time of 48.771. The Greek driver became the first driver to ever set a 48-second race lap time at Brands Hatch in EuroNASCAR stock cars.
Fastest Man in UK: Thomas Krasonis Breaks Brands Hatch Lap Record
NASCAR GP UK 2023: Next stop – Brands Hatch!
The 2023 NASCAR Euro Whelen Series continues this weekend at the Brands Hatch circuit, and Thomas Krasonis will be competing in the EuroNASCAR PRO category, with Marko Stipp Motorsport.
It’s been a lengthy break between the opening race weekend in Valencia to this coming weekend in England, West Kingsdown.
The 1.944 km circuit is the Indy version of Brands Hatch. Situated in the southeast of England, it offers a unique challenge for the monstrous NASCAR machines, with just 6 corners, all but one being right handers.
After the first two races of the season, Thomas Krasonis is at the P11 in the standings, after his impressive podium finish in the Junior category of EuroNASCAR PRO.
‘Brands Hatch is definitely the most exciting race for me personally,’ said Thomas.
‘For one, it’s my favorite circuit on the calendar, and secondly, I have had my best ever finish in the series there. Therefore I am looking forward to race again in British ground in a high level competition once again.’
Saturday, June 17
Qualifying: 9:50 CEST
Race 1: 13:50 CEST
Sunday, June 18
Race 2: 14:00 CEST
You can watch all the action HERE, and follow Thomas Krasonis on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
NASCAR GP Ισπανίας 2023: Βάθρο στην κατηγορία του για τον Θωμά Κρασώνη
Ο Θωμάς Κρασώνης φεύγει από τη Βαλένθια με ένα βάθρο και δύο καλούς αγώνες στο άνοιγμα της αυλαίας του φετινού πρωταθλήματος EuroNASCAR Pro.
Η πρεμιέρα του πρωταθλήματος EuroNASCAR Pro για το 2023 ήρθε με δύο θετικά αποτελέσματα, και το βάθρο στην υποκατηγορία Junior του θεσμού για τον Θωμά Κρασώνη.
Εκκινώντας 13ος στον αγώνα του Σαββάτου, ο Κρασώνης οδήγησε μεστά και πέρασε τη γραμμή του τερματισμού πάλι στην 13η θέση.
Την Κυριακή, ξεκίνησε 15ος, και κατάφερε να οδηγήσει και πάλι με σταθερό ρυθμό και καλό γυρολόγιο, εκμεταλλευόμενος λάθη και συμβάντα, αποφεύγοντας ο ίδιος τα ατοπήματα σε μία αρκετά καυτή μάχη και στους 18 γύρους του αγώνα.
Έτσι, κατάφερε να αναρριχηθεί ως την 8η θέση, και την 3η στην κατηγορία Junior του EuroNASCAR Pro, στο δεύτερο βάθρο του στο πρωτάθλημα μετά από εκείνο στην Ιταλία το 2022.
Αυτοί ήταν οι δύο πρώτοι αγώνες του με την νέα του ομάδα, τη Marko Stipp Motorsport, την οποία έσπευσε να ευχαριστήσει για την καθοδήγηση όλη τη διάρκεια του τριημέρου.
«Αρχικά, θέλω να πω ότι είμαι πάρα πολύ ευχαριστημένος από την ομάδα, ειδικά στον τομέα της τεχνικής στήριξης αλλά της μελέτης της τηλεμετρίας. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο κατάφερα να βελτιώσω αρκετά τους χρόνους μου, και τον ρυθμό που είχα στον αγώνα.
«Καταφέραμε να έχουμε έναν καθαρό αγώνα, με καλές μάχες, χωρίς ζημιές και στους δύο αγώνες. Η συνεννόηση με τον spotter ήταν εξαιρετική, όπως και συνολικά η συνεργασία με την ομάδα.
«Παραμένουμε συγκεντρωμένοι και προσηλωμένοι στους στόχους μας, θέλοντας να τα πάμε ακόμα καλύτερα τον Ιούνιο στην Αγγλία.»
Όσο για τον ανταγωνισμό, ο Κρασώνης τόνισε πως το επίπεδο έχει ανέβει σε σχέση με τα προηγούμενα χρόνια στην κατηγορία, όντας πια κι ο ίδιος στη 2η σεζόν του στο πρωτάθλημα EuroNASCAR Pro:
«Πρέπει να αναφερθεί, επιπλέον, πως το επίπεδο στην Pro κατηγορία έχει βελτιωθεί σημαντικά. Αυτό φαίνεται κι από το γεγονός ότι από την 1η ως την 16η θέση, όλοι κινούνται ταχύτατα, ο ανταγωνισμός έχει ανέβει.»
Photo Credits: Bart Dehaese
Thomas Krasonis joins Marko Stipp Motorsport to compete in EuroNASCAR PRO
Marko Stipp Motorsport has filled the first of two cars for the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season with a driver who is a NWES veteran despite his young age: Thomas Krasonis.
The Greek will drive for the German team led by Marko Stipp in EuroNASCAR PRO and fight for a top-10 finish. Coming from Florida, where the youngster from Athens made his oval racing debut at New Smyrna Speedway, the 21-year-old is ready to take the next step in the official European NASCAR series and conquer the top spots together with Marko Stipp Motorsport.
The first-ever Greek in EuroNASCAR plans to improve from race to race and fight for the top spots in the most competitive NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship. With four top-10 finishes so far in EuroNASCAR 2, Krasonis is preparing to make another improvement at the wheel of a pure V8 beast with 400 hp, H-pattern shifting and no electronic aids. Marko Stipp’s German organization knows how to bring home solid results since 2017. A race win, countless top-10 finishes, and plenty of trophy wins are the team’s foundation.
“I want to be in the top-10 in the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series with Marko Stipp Motorsport and take the next step in my career,” said Krasonis. “I am already looking forward to the race at Brands Hatch, my favorite event on the schedule thanks to the tens of thousands of fans. I’m going to pursue my goals and I think I’m always passionate and committed when it comes to racing. I’m also focused on the important details and always work under pressure.”
A basketball fan, he got his start in racing as a child in karting. He moved on to touring cars before joining the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2019. His father shares his passion for racing as an amateur kart racer, but Thomas Krasonis is the first family member to make a career in racing. When he first sat in a kart at the age of “seven or eight”, he immediately fell in love with racing. His idol is Ayrton Senna.
Recently, Marko Stipp Motorsport also confirmed the return of two-time Club Challenge Champion Gordon Barnes. The British driver will compete for his third consecutive title in the EuroNASCAR regularity test, which includes three 30-minute sessions on Friday at select NWES events. Barnes, who won the title in 2021 and 2022, is tied for the all-time lead with Frenchman Alain Mosqueron, who topped the standings in 2019 and 2020.
“A third title would be amazing,” Barnes stated. “There has been a lot of strong competition the last few years so each title has been hard fought. To get a third would be amazing, especially to do it three in a row. I’ve set a pretty high bar already over the last two years with winning three events in a row, trying to match that is going to be a big challenge.”
The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season kicks off May 6-7 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. All qualifying and race events will be streamed live on EuroNASCAR’s YouTube channel, Motorsport.tv and various television services around the world. Keep an eye on Krasonis in the Marko Stipp Motorsport Chevrolet in EuroNASCAR PRO. Will he climb the Mount Olympus of NASCAR racing in Europe?
Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
ΝΑSCAR GP Czech Republic – Coming in hot after the podium
Thomas Krasonis returns from the summer break, ready to give everything he has after the podium finish at Vallelunga. Next stop: Autodrom Most!
On 3 and 4 of September, Thomas Krasonis and the Academy Motorsport team will compete in the third round of this year’s EuroNASCAR championship, the NASCAR GP Czech Republic.
We sat down with Thomas for a quick Q&A, to get his feeling after the long weeks without a race.
-How was the summer break for you?
I didn’t have enough time to go to vacations this summer, due to the commitments I had. Now I’m ready for the races at Most!
-Talk us through the experience of working with the Centaurus Racing Team.
It was a beautiful and unique experience. It’s a group of 42 mechanics and enginners from the University of Thessaly, and they outdid themselves in order to build and race this race car. They have my utmost respect, and I thank them for the opportunity to compete with it.
-What are your past experiences at the Most circuit?
I have raced there before. It’s a very fast flowing and pleasing to drive in track. In fact, it’s one of my favorites in the EuroNASCAR calendar!
-So, what are your expectations for the race weekened in Czechia?
If everything goes to plan, I don’t believe I lack in any aspect to the guys in front. Good qualifying and a good start will help us take a solid result, with the goal always being a finishing position in the top 10.
And here is the schedule for this weekend (in Local Czech Republic Time)
Saturday, September 3
Qualifying – 10:50
Race 1 – 13:50
Sunday, September 4
Race 2 – 15:00
Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Klemen Sofric
NASCAR GP Italy – Race 2: A superb drive from Krasonis sees him finish on the podium
Thomas Krasonis climbed up the order to finish P12 and on the podium for his category at the second race in Vallelunga.
It was a race of battles and many overtaking maneuvers for Thomas Krasonis on Sunday afternoon in Vallelunga.
The Academy MotorSport driver with the #1 on his doors charged up the field, having started P27 after a disastrous race on Saturday, in which he had a sublime start, but didn’t manage to finish after a crash.
By the end of the 18-lap race, Krasonis was up into P12, and on the podium places of the Junior division of the EuroNASCAR PRO category.
This is his first piece of silverware for the 2022 EuroNASCAR season, and a well-deserved one after 15 overtakes during a race which had two separate Safety Car periods.
NASCAR GP Italy – All roads lead to Rome for Thomas Krasonis
After the first two rounds of the 2022 EuroNASCAR season, Thomas Krasonis and Academy MotorSport go to the Vallelunga Circuit, aiming at better results.
Situated near Rome, the 4,085 km-track is a unique challenge for the big NASCAR cars – especially on the last 5 turns, on the most technical and slow part of the circuit.
‘I have raced at Vallelunga in the past, and recently I tested there with my car, so I can say that I know it pretty well. I feel comfortable driving in it,’ said Krasonis.
The schedule for the race weekend (Local Italian Time):
Saturday, July 9
Qualifying – 10:00
Race 1 – 14:00
Sunday, July 10
Race 2 – 10:30
Photo Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard