The NASCAR Euroseries race in Spain brought roaring excitement to Circuit Ricardo Tormo this past weekend. Greek driver Thomas Krasonis claimed a stunning victory. Following his win in the second race of the American-style stock car series’ European edition, Krasonis took the lead in the championship.
Krasonis, who started from pole position, maintained control throughout the race. His performance put him ahead of defending champion Vittorio Ghirelli, driving a Chevrolet Camaro, and French driver Paul Jouffreau, behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang. The Greek driver now holds the top spot in the overall standings after the season opener in Valencia, marking a breakthrough moment in his racing career.
The race weekend wasn’t without drama. In a chaotic start, Jouffreau—who had won the previous day’s race—was struck by another car on the home straight, causing him to tumble down the ranks early on. Though he dropped to seventh, the Frenchman managed to recover and battle his way back up to third place. His intense duel with veteran Yvan Muller for a spot on the podium had fans on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, Krasonis and Ghirelli raced ahead without serious threats to their positions. Their consistent pace and clear focus left little room for challengers. As the checkered flag waved, Krasonis secured his first-ever victory in the EuroNASCAR series.
“It’s my first win in the category,” said Krasonis, clearly elated. “The championship has started incredibly, and now the only thing that matters is to keep going. The goal is the title.”
The event drew nearly 19,000 fans to Cheste, just outside Valencia, highlighting Spain’s growing enthusiasm for motorsport beyond Formula 1 and MotoGP. Adding a celebrity spark to the occasion, Valencia CF striker Hugo Duro served as the race’s Grand Marshal. He delivered the iconic call, “Drivers, start your engines,” and participated in the awards ceremony that followed the main race.
More Than Just One Race
Beyond the main event, the weekend’s lineup included other thrilling competitions. In the EuroNASCAR Open category, Czech driver Martin Doubek took the top step of the podium after a chaotic, incident-filled race. He was joined by Bruno Moulders of the Netherlands and Kenko Miura of Japan, both driving Toyota Camrys, who completed the top three.
Fans were also treated to the roaring power of truck racing. Spanish brothers Josy and Jorge Vila dominated the truck events, each securing a victory and a runner-up finish. Portuguese racer Eduardo Ramires rounded out the top three. The Confortauto Racer Cup truck races were a crowd favorite, delivering a dose of raw engine power and wheel-to-wheel intensity that added to the festival-like atmosphere.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR Euroseries continues its 2025 season with the next round scheduled for May 17–18 at Italy’s Vallelunga circuit. Meanwhile, fans in Valencia can look forward to more racing action when Circuit Ricardo Tormo hosts the Saxo 8v Cup on April 25–26.
With an explosive start to the season, the EuroNASCAR series is proving once again that American-style stock car racing has a strong and growing fan base in Europe. For Thomas Krasonis, this victory in Spain could be the first of many as he aims for the ultimate prize: the championship title.
