NASCAR Euro Series – The Championships
The basic information that you need to know about the championships contested in the NASCAR Euro Series.
NASCAR Euro Series has numerous championships and Trophies that are contested over the course of a season. The series features two primary championships, based on its two main divisions: EuroNASCAR V8GP and EuroNASCAR OPEN.
The EuroNASCAR V8GP class is for the experienced and “Pro” drivers, while EuroNASCAR OPEN are intended for the young and “Am” drivers. Each divisions also has their own Trophies (or sub-championships) that are contested and teams also fight for the Endurance Teams Championship. More on them down below.
When a driver first enters the NASCAR Euro Series, a special council will determine what rating category the driver will be placed in. Their past resume and racing experience is placed on a priority here.
There are three rating categories that a driver may get put into – Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. It is these Grades that will determine what division a driver can compete in the NASCAR Euro Series.
For more about Driver Grades, refer to the guide for the 2023 system in the link provided here.
The EuroNASCAR V8GP (V8GP) class is the main championship for the NASCAR Euro Series. The class is open to all drivers regardless of their Driver Grades.
V8GP division was previously named as the Elite (2008 – 2013), Elite 1 (2014 – 2019), and EuroNASCAR PRO (2020 – 2024) division.
The overall PRO championship is considered as the biggest prize in European stock car racing. Winning it will enshrine your name to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in NASCAR’s home of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Two additional Trophies are contested for the EuroNASCAR PRO drivers, to which a driver is eligible to compete if they met the following entry requirements:
- Junior Trophy – Open for all drivers aged 25 and under at the start of the year
- Challenger Trophy – Open for all Grade C drivers
Vittorio Ghirelli is the reigning champion of EuroNASCAR V8GP, having successfully defended his crown from 2024 in a hard-fought 2025 season.
Israeli driver Alon Day holds the record for the most V8GP titles in history with four (2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022).
The EuroNASCAR OPEN (OPEN) championship is restricted for those with a Grade B or a Grade C rating. By no means this class is restricted to “Amateur” drivers as young drivers who aspired to build their racing career via the EuroNASCAR are welcomed to start their career here.
OPEN division was previously named as the Elite 2 (2014 – 2019) and EuroNASCAR 2 (2020 – 2024) division. The name OPEN itself was originally used from 2008 – 2013 before it was revived starting from 2025.
Winning the OPEN championship showed that you’re ready to step up and battle against the best that Europe has to offer.
There are also three Trophies contested within the EuroNASCAR OPEN championship. A driver is eligible to compete if they met the following entry requirements:
- Legend Trophy – Open for all drivers aged 45 and over at the start of the year
- Master Trophy – Open for all Grade C drivers
- Lady Trophy – Open for all female drivers
Thomas Krasonis is the reigning champion of EuroNASCAR OPEN, having beaten then-reigning champion Martin Doubek to became the first Greek NASCAR champion.
Doubek himself holds the record for the most OPEN titles in history with two (2021 and 2024). As of the end of 2025, the Czech driver is the only multi-time champion in EuroNASCAR’s second division.
To facilitate EuroNASCAR’s unique “one car, two divisions” format, teams also fight for the Endurance Teams Championship.
Under the current format, each entry’s results across a race weekend are combined into one aggregate time. The team that completed the most total laps in the least time possible is declared as the round’s winner.
The entry that scored the most collective points at the end of the season will be crowned as the EuroNASCAR Endurance Teams Champion.
Team Bleekemolen is the reigning EuroNASCAR Teams Champion, having won their first title in 2025 with their flagship No. 69 team.
Dutch team Hendriks Motorsport holds the record for the most Teams titles in history with four (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022).
There’s also another class that NASCAR Euro Series currently recognizes: EuroNASCAR Rookie Challenge.
The EuroNASCAR Rookie Challenge class is specifically designed for two driver categories: Young drivers who want to discover more about EuroNASCAR and gentleman drivers who want to have fun in a friendly atmosphere without the pressure of having to race together with rivals on-track.
Unlike V8GP and OPEN, Rookie Challenge uses a regularity time trial format to determine its results. After a familiarization session, Rookie Challenge drivers are given two timed 30-minute sessions on Thursday or Friday to set a series of lap times.
These lap times have to match the target time set by the drivers themselves. The closer you get to the target time, the less penalty you received. Bonus points will be awarded to three drivers that selected the fastest target times in an event.
The driver with the least combined penalty time in a session will be declared as the session’s winner. However, the round’s winner is the one that scored the most combined points.
EuroNASCAR Rookie Challenge sessions are open for co-drive rides, meaning that one car can be shared by two drivers in the same weekend. New to 2025 is the ability to feature a passenger inside your car, which is allowed as long as you asked prior permission to the series organizers first.
Drivers from the two main classes may use the Rookie Challenge as a method to get more practice time. However, only rookie full-timers and drivers competing in less than three rounds in any given previous season can apply for this.
Drivers who entered Rookie Challenge in such way would be recognized as entrants in the Entry List. However, they are ineligible for classification in the final results.
In the 2025 season, EuroNASCAR Rookie Challenge supported the main championship in five rounds: Valencia, Vallelunga, Most, Oschersleben and Zolder.
Jose Antonio Peñalta is the reigning champion of EuroNASCAR Rookie Challenge after dominating the 2025 season by winning four of the five rounds hosted.
Great Britain’s Gordon Barnes holds the record for the most Rookie Challenge titles in history with three (2021, 2022 and 2023).
Information is provided from the official 2021 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Digital Presentation, 2024 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Digital Presentation, 2025 NASCAR Euro Series Season Presentation and MOOG EU’s NASCAR® EXPLAINED.
Disclaimer: Main photo is from NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner. Credits for all other photos are listed underneath each image.
Last Updated: 24 March 2026.