The long term partnership signed in 2012 between NASCAR and Team FJ, the organizer of the official NASCAR Series in Europe, has been incredibly successful so far and brought the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to an exponential growth. Therefore the parties announced today an unprecedented ten-year partnership extension to operate the Series through at least 2030.
A unique feat in European motorsports, the extension further reinforces the foundations of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and brings even more long-term stability to the brainchild of Jerome and Anne Galpin, the creators of the European NASCAR championship.
Strengthened with the creation of a dedicated NASCAR International Group in 2018, the plan for both partners is to continue the series’ development through an increased NASCAR involvement to support the Team FJ organization in different areas and position the Euro Series at the highest level of European Racing.
Over its first eight years, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series earned itself a reputation as the best touring car series in the Old Continent and yet the potential for further development is huge.
“The whole Team FJ organization as well as the Galpin Family are extremely happy and proud of this extension coming even before the previous agreement’s expiration. This demonstrates the great job done over these past years and the very unique relationship built between Team FJ and NASCAR,” said NWES President CEO Jerome Galpin. “When we created the Series, we would have never imagined how big it could become, but today we measure the huge potential still in front of us and figure we only tapped a small portion of it! Working with such great people at NASCAR is definitely a huge opportunity and we are all very excited to work even harder during the next decade to continue to grow NASCAR and it’s unique Pure Racing fun in Europe!”
“Today’s announcement of a 10-year extension reinforces NASCAR’s commitment to its international footprint and sets up the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for continued growth and expansion in Europe over the next decade,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR Chief International Officer. “Europe remains a critical building block of NASCAR’s International initiative and we believe we have established a solid base from which to continue to grow. We are very thankful to Anne and Jerome Galpin and the whole Team FJ organization for the partnership we have shared with them over the past several years and look forward to many more years of cooperation as we build the Series together.”
In its exponential growth, since joining NASCAR the Euro Series held NASCAR events at 14 different tracks in eight different European countries and welcomed drivers from five continents, all eager to make themselves a name in NASCAR. 2019 marked a record grid with over 30 cars season entries and over 75 drivers representing 22 countries. Euro NASCAR’s characteristic Pure Racing on-track product, together with family oriented American-themed events around the track, attracted an average attendance of 20.000 fans per event.
The Series also keeps growing as a stepping stone for drivers willing to progress in their NASCAR career by racing in North America. 19 Euro NASCAR drivers competed in NASCAR in North America and five of them took part in a National Series event. Alon Day was the first NWES competitor to race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017 at Sonoma, while Loris Hezemans was the latest to take the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year at Road America. Day was also the first driver coming from outside North America to be selected for NASCAR Next program.
The future looks brighter than ever for NASCAR in Europe and 2020 will be just the beginning of a renewed 10-year that promises to bring fans across Europe even more exciting events.
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