NASCAR Euro Series Champion Vittorio Ghirelli, Endurance Team Champion driver Patrick Schober and Rookie Trophy winner Victor Neumann talk after attending the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte
- Seven NASCAR Euro Series competitors took part in the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte
- All of them were honored on stage with the other NASCAR Champions
- Vittorio Ghirelli put his name into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
- EuroNASCAR creates the best opportunities to kickstart a career in NASCAR
2024 NASCAR Euro Series PRO Champion Vittorio Ghirelli was honored on stage during the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte. The Italian spoke to a large crowd of NASCAR’s most important stakeholders and competitors. He lined up next to U.S. NASCAR champions Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier and Ty Majeski. Endurance Team Champion and OPEN Series runner-up Patrick Schober and OPEN Rookie Trophy Champion Victor Neumann also made the trip to the USA to be a part of the show. Here’s what the drivers had to say.
“The NASCAR Euro Series is really one big family and it’s just amazing what NASCAR does for the fans,” said EuroNASCAR Champion Ghirelli, who has been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “There are so many passionate fans and families at the events. Some of them camp out all week. It’s just amazing what we’re accomplishing and the series continues to grow.”
“I believe that Jerome Galpin, Anne Galpine and Joe Balash will strengthen the relationship with U.S. NASCAR more and more to help European drivers have access to NASCAR’s top championships. It’s great to be here with so many legends. We visited Hendrick Motorsports and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Everything is just bigger here.”
Schober added: “I’m super excited to be here to receive the Endurance Teams Championship trophy that I won with RDV Competition and my teammate Paul Jouffreau. I also finished second in the OPEN class. We had some ups and downs during the season, but in the end we managed to finish second. I hope to beat the others in an exciting 2025 NASCAR Euro Series championship.”
Neumann was also happy to be in Charlotte: “It’s just a great time here. It’s also the first time I’m in America for something other than work. I’m really happy about that. I hope to be back in a race car soon. I’m really happy for the team and everybody involved. Thanks to Marko Stipp Motorsport and AIX Investment Group.”
Alongside the above three, Challenger Trophy winner Dario Caso, Club Challenge season winner Federico Monti, Hendriks Motorsport stars Liam Hezemans and Gil Linster, Hendriks Motorsport team owner Roy Hendriks and Marko Stipp Motorsport representatives Marco Reimer as well as Sven Schnabel were honored on stage.
While the ceremonies conclude a spectacular 2024 season, the 2025 championship awaits. The first test of the season will take place on December 10-11 at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany. The Driver Recruitment Test has been created to assist drivers interested in joining the series in 2025. Interested drivers can register for on-track sessions, meet the founder, owner and promoter of the NASCAR Euro Series, TEAM FJ, and also apply for scholarships to compete for trophies and honors in the coming year.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Nina Weinbrenner
