For the first time since 2019, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will head to the Netherlands to race on the unique Raceway Venray half-mile short track oval. While many drivers will be taking on the 25 degrees banked turns for the first time in their careers, there is also a relatively large group of drivers with oval racing experience on their resumes. What is it about oval racing that makes the NASCAR Oval GP so different from road course racing? We talked to the drivers and they pointed out why the two races at Raceway Venray will be among of the highlights of the 2024 EuroNASCAR season.
Double V Racing signed oval veteran Gordon Barnes for EuroNASCAR PRO because the three-time Club Challenge champion has taken part in many races on the half-mile track in the Netherlands in a different class. The Brit is a big fan of oval racing and knows what it takes to be successful on a short track like the one located close to the Dutch-German border. He sees two important ingredients making the difference when more than 20 cars will take the green flag.
“Car setup is different for an oval and very important,” said Barnes. “You need a good setup and you can’t hustle the car. There’s no run-off, just a wall. If the car slides and you try to catch it, you’re probably going to hit the wall. The racing is different too. Everywhere is an opportunity to pass. There are no single file areas, and if you make a mistake, you’re going to get passed. Blocking doesn’t make sense at Raceway Venray because the outside line is the faster one. You have to read the traffic and make quick decisions. If you take the wrong line, you’re more likely to be overtaken than passing other cars. Overtaking doesn’t work the same way. On a road race, you get to the apex first and control the line. On an oval, the other car just takes the higher line, keeps the speed up on the exit, and holds the position.”
The fans will certainly be looking forward to seeing Ryan Vargas show his talent in his area of expertise. The American is a true oval racer and wants to shine in his 3F Racing Chevrolet. But remember, even big names like Bobby Labonte or Myatt Snider never won an oval race in Europe’s official NASCAR championship despite their vast experience. The European competition should not be underestimated thanks to their deep knowledge of the 400 horsepower EuroNASCAR cars. Nevertheless, Vargas sees a great chance to get his first NWES top-5 finish at Raceway Venray.
“The Venray track looks like tracks I grew up racing on, like Irwindale Speedway in California,” said Vargas. “It’s a tight half-mile oval with multiple grooves, which is a lot of fun. I think the EuroNASCAR cars will be a lot of fun to drive there. I’ve never driven these cars on an oval, but I know a couple of guys in the field who have. I have the most oval experience, but it will not be easy at all because the field is pretty strong. Oval racing is just a completely different style of racing. You have to be aggressive every lap. On road courses you have to hit the apexes, whereas on ovals there’s a lot more flow, a lot more technicality in terms of how you attack a corner. I’m excited to go to Venray because I love tracks like that. I grew up on ovals so I’m looking forward to going back to what I used to do.”
Another driver with oval racing experience in the USA is Thomas Krasonis, who, like Gil Linster and Martin Doubek, has competed in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna, Florida. The Marko Stipp Motorsport driver from Greece said: “Oval racing is the closest thing we have to gladiators fighting in a coliseum. At Raceway Venray you need consistency to be successful and that could be the key to winning the race on this beautiful track.” Krasonis and his teammate Victor Neumann have already raced at Raceway Venray in 2024 in another series in order to get used to the half-mile oval. Krasonis and Neumann, both pulling double duties, may therefore have a slight advantage over their competitors.
Another driver with oval racing experience is Sebastiaan Bleekemolen. As well as competing in another short track event, the Dutchman will also be celebrating his home NASCAR GP in the Netherlands. He said: “Racing on an oval is something really special. My first time was with the NWES in 2019. After a few installation laps I was curious to see how I could increase the pace because the walls were so close and the speed was really high considering the length of the track. But after some more track time, I suddenly found the rhythm and balance. Really fantastic! But that was just driving. Racing with more than 20 cars was a different experience. You have to have so much respect for each other and without a spotter you are completely lost. People always ask if it’s boring to drive in circles. No, not at all, every lap is a challenge and an adventure. I’m really looking forward to driving at Venray again, that’s for sure!”
But there are also drivers who will be competing in the first oval race of their career. A challenge that will not be easy to overcome, but the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series has seen oval racing rookies win at Venray or Tours in the past, so the chances of bringing home the big trophy are still there. Academy / Alex Caffi Motorsport’s Vladimiros Tziortzis is one of the oval rookies in 2024: “I’m looking forward to driving these V8 beasts around Raceway Venray as it will be my first oval race ever. My goal is to find the limits as quickly as possible based on the short practice time we will have. Consistency will be the key to this race weekend.”
The 2024 NASCAR Oval GP at Raceway Venray in the Netherlands will take place June 29-30. Fans will be able to pick up their tickets at the track offices on race days. EuroNASCAR 2 will be in action on Saturday with a 70-lap race, while EuroNASCAR PRO will highlight the event with a 100-lap race on Sunday. Watch qualifying and all races live on the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel or on many TV channels around the world.
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