Nothing beats an event like NASCAR®! It’s an incredible adrenaline rush from the moment the first car whizzes past you to the moment you cross the finish flag. But how well do you know NASCAR® history? What makes the cars in the NASCAR® Series so special? What do you expect from an exciting weekend of NASCAR? How are points calculated? What is the difference between the championships?
NASCAR® History
Since its first race more than 70 years ago, the NASCAR® Series has grown into a major sporting event in the world of racing and has become one of the most popular sports in the United States, alongside the NHL and NBA. More than 1,200 NASCAR® races are held each year, followed closely by more than 75 million fans around the world, and that’s just in the United States. 2009 saw the launch of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™, which has become one of the most developed and popular racing series. Annually, it attracts the attention of more than 150,000 fans and is broadcast in 190 countries of the world. Will you be watching the next European race?
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ cars
In the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™, everything depends on the professionalism of the driver and team captain. How do you know that? All drivers in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ drive virtually identical cars. It is a Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota with a 5.7-liter V8 engine with a capacity of 400 horsepower. Each car has rear-wheel drive weighing 1,210 kg and can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Each car uses the same basic parts and sealed assemblies. In other words, the only major difference is the driver himself and his level of professionalism, as well as how the team captain sets up the car for the race.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ Weekend
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ weekend is an incredible spectacle from start to finish. The competition begins on Friday with a car inspection and two driver practice sessions. On Saturday, the qualifying session and the Superpole session start, based on the results of which the positions on the starting grids are determined. This is followed by the first race in the Elite 1 and Elite 2 divisions (both 65 km races). On Sunday, the second race takes place in the Elite 1 and Elite 2 divisions (again at a distance of 65 km). Between races, everyone is given the opportunity to walk through the starting grid and pit lane. Fans can immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere at the NASCAR® racetrack, visit a specially designated place (an open paddock) to meet drivers and teams, see racing cars and their idols up close, get autographs and even ride the car with the driver.
Points
In each NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™, the first driver gets 40 points, second gets 35 points, third gets 34 points, fourth gets 33 points, and so on down to the very last driver who gets only 1 point. These points are accumulated throughout the series and as a result allow to determine the winner among both drivers and teams. The last two races of the calendar are played in a double-point playoff system (80 points for first place, 70 points for second place, 68 points for third place, and so on). This is the most spectacular race of the year in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™. Four additional points (8 points in the playoffs) are awarded to the driver who takes the highest places in each race, thereby encouraging him to overtake and stimulate the desire to win.
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ races are divided into two divisions: Elite 1 and Elite 2. In addition, there is a team championship and several trophies and cups. Winning a title or trophy in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ is the best chance for European drivers to compete in NASCAR® racing in the United States.
Elite 1
Drivers qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ are divided into three classes — Gold, Silver and Bronze — based on their resume and experience. The NASCAR® Elite 1 Championship is open to all drivers. In the Elite 1 division, two trophies are played:
Junior Trophy — for all drivers under the age of 25
Challenger Trophy — for amateur drivers
Elite 2
Only Silver and Bronze drivers participate in the NASCAR® Elite 2 Championship. As in the Elite 1 division, several trophies are played in the Elite 2 championship:
Legend Trophy — for drivers over 40 years old
Rookie Cup — for young drivers making their debut in the series
Lady Cup — for all female drivers
Team championships
The team championship is determined by the number of points accumulated by each car in the Elite 1 and Elite 2 divisions.
Cup of Nations
2018 marks the launch of a new Nations Cup that aims to pay tribute to the vast number of host nations represented by NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™ drivers. The first race of the season took place in 2018 in the city of Valencia, Spain. More than 60 drivers from 19 countries took part in the European series. The Nations Cup awards gold, silver and bronze medals to the three countries with the highest points each weekend.
For cars participating in the NASCAR® series, ano components of the highest quality. You know that all 22 championship-winning drivers since 1966 have had one thing in common: MOOG steering parts and suspension. This brand, thanks to the maximum efficiency and durability of components, has led to victory for all drivers in the NASCAR® series. You also have the option of installing MOOG premium quality parts in your car. MOOG offers a huge range of easy-to-install, durable components that are designed, manufactured, tested and tested to OEM quality standards for maximum performance. Learn more here.