Anthony Kumpen to Race Daytona for Precision Performance Motorsports
China Grove, N.C. (January 14, 2016) – 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Champion Anthony Kumpen will make his fourth NASCAR XFINITY Series start and third in a row with Precision Performance Motorsports in the PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 20th, 2016. Kumpen will be piloting the No. 46 LeasePlan Chevrolet Camaro.
Kumpen’s XFINITY Series start at Daytona International Speedway will be part of the Nexteer Road to Daytona program – the path designed by the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Nexteer Automotive to bring European drivers to race in NASCAR in the US. Kumpen competed in three XFINITY Series races in 2015 in order to gain NASCAR approval to race at the famed superspeedway. The road course racer acquired valuable experience at each venue, exceeding expectations each week and besting many circle-track veterans.
“We worked all year to get the approval to do Daytona and it is fantastic to finally be able to race there,” said Kumpen, “To race at Daytona is a dream for every NASCAR driver. It is a very special track, and for a European NASCAR driver, it is even more special. I’m proud and happy that we can be there. It all started thanks to the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and I am grateful for this. I want to thank everybody involved from sponsors to NASCAR. I am the first NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver to go to Daytona and I hope this will be an inspiration for young drivers to join the NWES.”
Belgium-native Kumpen is a veteran of the American Le Mans Series, with starts in the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, FIA GT, and Belcar Endurance Championship. Kumpen has won multiple championships across Europe, as well as a record six victories in the 24 Hours of Zolder.
Kumpen is fresh off the heels of his second season of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series competition that proved noteworthy. 2015 highlights included one win and fourth overall in the driver points’ championship. Kumpen made his first start in the US in 2015 as part of the Nexteer Road to Daytona program, debuting in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener at New Smyrna Speedway. He stepped up to the XFINITY Series at Iowa Speedway in August and then joined Precision Performance Motorsports for the final two races of the season at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2016 season opening race at Daytona International Speedway will be the best possible experience on the way to regain his Euro-NASCAR title in 2016.
“We are excited to welcome Anthony back to our team for the third race in a row as we are building the bridge across the ocean,” said Precision Performance Motorsports owner Rick Gdovic. “We have had an excellent partnership with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series through these races and Anthony has represented our team and NASCAR in the US extremely well.”
Crew chief Mark Setzer will lead Kumpen’s XFINITY Series effort. This will mark Setzer’s third season leading the team from the pit box.
The PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live February 20th, 2016 beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on FOX and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.
About NASCAR Whelen Euro Series:
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series was founded in 2008 and established the NASCAR official European Series in January 2012 thanks to a long-term partnership signed with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), Team FJ, a Motorsports company located in Blois, France, and Whelen Engineering as title sponsor of the Series. The season is made up of 24 races, equally split among ELITE 1 and ELITE 2 divisions, on the best European tracks. Euro NASCAR introduced a stunning innovation on July 7-8, 2012 by organizing the first ever NASCAR race on an oval track in Europe on a half-mile speedway built in the downtown of Tours (France). With four races in two days, these 450 HP V8 monsters provide pure racing action and thrilling bumper-to-bumper battles as well as a lot of family fun around the track! In the pure NASCAR tradition, race fans can get closer to the action than ever and feel the unique in-Europe paddock atmosphere thanks to drivers, teams and cars always available for the spectators. The series attracts drivers from all over the world, all willing to fight on track for the win and take the first step towards becoming a NASCAR star in the U.S.
About Precision Performance Motorsports:
Owned by Richard Gdovic and managed by Charles Denike, Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM) is a China Grove, North Carolina and Gloucester, Virginia-based auto racing team that fields entries in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, and Whelen All-American Series. PPM provides a comprehensive driver development program, race car rentals, setup and pull down rig services, test consultation, and driver coaching. For more information, visit Precision Performance Motorsports on Facebook, @PrecisionPerf on Twitter, or visit the website at www.ppm646.com
Sources: Cortney Dryden, Precision Performance Motorsports PR