Jorge Martelli mastered the 1.6-mile oval at Goiânia to secure his first overall victory and Challenger class sweep in the 2024 NASCAR Brasil Series season.
Jorge Martelli was crowned as NASCAR Brasil Series’ “King of the Oval” after he secured his first NASCAR-era career victory at NASCAR Brazil’s only oval round of the 2024 season, held at the ‘External Circuit’ layout of Goiânia’s Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna.
The 1.6-mile oval delivered with fantastic close racing action and Martelli was on top form for the entire weekend. Having led Friday’s Practice and then qualifying on the front row in Superpole, the heir of the famous Moinho Martelli mill dominated the first race to secure his first visit to the Victory Lane.
He followed it up with a victory in the Challenger class on Race 2, completely sweeping the opposition in NASCAR Brasil’s new second division. Gabriel Casagrande took the overall victory in that race with a pole-to-win.
Race 1 Recap
Lourenço Beirão led the 24-car field to the green flag of Race 1 at approximately 9:00 AM local time. Beirão retained his position on the opening lap, but Martelli’s No. 87 Ellix/Ferticel Chevrolet slingshotted past the Portuguese on lap 2 to take the lead.
Martelli was at his best in Race 1, always finding a way to retain his position despite NASCAR Brasil cars’ strong drafting capabilities. The businessman continued to lead from lap after lap, frustrating his opposition as they continued to try – and failed – to find a way past Martelli.
Vitor Genz in the No. 46 FRUM Ford Mustang eventually got a chance to pass Martelli on the final lap. He seems to have done it, but it was too late.
A three-car incident between Brendon Zonta, Jeff Giassi and Edson Reis had taken place on the penultimate lap and when the caution was called, Martelli was still in the lead.
Martelli led the finishers behind the safety car to the checkered flag, securing his first overall and Challenger class victory in the 2024 season.
While he had been credited with a victory in 2023, this was Martelli’s first time to the Victory Lane in the NASCAR sanctioned years of NASCAR Brasil as the race where he “won” last year was actually won by guest driver Paul Tracy.
Genz had to be content with a second place finish with Beirão completing the overall top-3. Campo Grande winner Léonardo Reis completed the NASCAR Brazil class top-3 in fourth while Guilherme Backes and Giovani Girotto rounded out the Challenger podium in ninth and tenth respectively.
Outside of the last lap incident, the caution was called two more times. The first was at lap 5 after Nick Monteiro’s No. 2 Mustang broke down at the side of the track.
Another incident involving Antonio Junquiera and Felipinho Tozzo on lap 9 brought out the Ford Mustang Mach 1 safety car for the second time. A restart was planned on the next lap, but the attempt was delayed by one lap as the marshalls had not cleared the track just yet.
Race 2 Recap
All 24 cars reformed for Race 2 on Sunday afternoon. Martelli was eager to make it double at Goiânia from second on the grid, but Superpole winner Casagrande got a good start and retained his lead into the first corner.
Martelli tried to use the draft to get past Casagrande on the back straight, but it compromised both of their racing lines. This allowed Reis to take the lead, but Casagrande regained it on lap 3 while Martelli went backwards and lost more positions instead.
Lap 5 again brought out the safety car and coincidentally, it was the Monteiro’s who caused it: Both Nick and father Beto had their own issues on the previous lap.
Nick lost control of his Mustang in the heavy braking point at turn 4 and crashed into Luis Trombini, while Beto – a driver familiar with oval racing in the States thanks to his K&N East stint in the early 2010’s – suffered a mechanical failure on the front straight.
A restart took place on lap 8, but Girotto’s No. 72 GCG Transportes Camaro grinded to a halt almost immediately after the call to green was given. This, unsurprisingly, forced the caution to be called again.
The race was restarted again on lap 10, but this green flag period was also short-lived as the engine in Cayan Chianca’s No. 4 Odontoprev/Perfect Automotive Ford blew in spectacular fashion after just two laps.
A lap 14 restart would be the final one of the race and Casagrande led the last five laps to secure his second win of the season – his fourth in the NASCAR era.
Reis and Witold Ramasauskas completed the overall podium while Martelli won his class in sixth place. Rapper MC Gui and Leonardo Yoshii rounded out the top-3 Challenger positions in ninth and eleventh respectively.
Disclaimer: Credits for all photos are listed underneath each image.