Jeff Gordon Named Grand Marshal For The NWES Finals
NASCAR Legend Will Visit The Circuit Zolder Finals On October 9
In what will be a historic moment for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and NASCAR fans all over Europe, 4-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon is scheduled to visit the Euro-NASCAR Finals in Zolder on Sunday, October 9th and serve as Grand Marshal for the ELITE 1 race that will determine the European Champion title.
“I’ve been to Zolder before, and I am really looking forward to seeing the NASCAR Euro Series race there,” said Gordon, who will say the ‘Most Famous Words In Motorsports’ at 16:04 CET, just before the NWES cars will roll off the grid for the last race of the 2016 season. “I’ve become friends with (series points leader) Anthony Kumpen and I’ve heard great things about the series popularity. I’m looking forward to seeing it first hand.”
Gordon’s four NASCAR Cup Series titles, 93 wins, and 81 pole positions only tell part of the story of a driver who greatly contributed to the growth of NASCAR and whose popularity spread all over the world during his 26-year NASCAR career and his current tenure as a NASCAR on FOX analyst. A role model and a hero for many NASCAR Whelen Euro Series drivers and fans, the 45-year-old Vallejo, California native is universally recognized as a Motorsports ambassador and his off-track initiatives like Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation cast a positive influence outside the sport’s confines.
It will be the first time Gordon will serve as Grand Marshal for a NASCAR race, further cementing the unique bond between the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and NASCAR in the US.
“This is a great honour for everybody involved in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series,” said Jerome Galpin, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President / CEO. “We are extremely proud to be part of the NASCAR family. We have developed a really amazing relationship in few years. Our drivers receive a great welcome every time they race in the USA and we are pleased to welcome more and more drivers and personalities visiting us from the USA. This Atlantic ocean becomes definitely smaller day after day.”
Current points leader and 2014 NWES Champion Anthony Kumpen, who drives the #24 Chevrolet SS in the Old Continent, feels honoured to have the chance to battle for the Euro NASCAR title if front of Gordon.
“To have Jeff visiting us in Zolder is amazing. It really shows how deeply he cares about NASCAR at all levels. I met Jeff on several occasions and every time I asked for advice, he was there for me,” said 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Champion. “I just got an advance review copy of Jeff’s biography, coming out next month. A truly amazing story, knowing how hard he had to work to succeed. This makes him a true role model for everybody in the sport. It will be a special Sunday both for us drivers and all the fans that will come to Circuit Zolder.”
After a hugely successful first edition in 2015, the October 8-9 American Festival Circuit Zolder NASCAR Finals promise to be even bigger and better. Action-packed races and a wide variety of American-themed attractions will delight the fans and the event will be streamed live on Fanschoice.tv. Live updates from the track will be available on the NASCAR Home Tracks Race Central Live page, on the @EuroNASCAR Twitter profile and on the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series official Facebook page.
CIRCUIT ZOLDER FINALS NWES SCHEDULE (CET times)
Thursday, October 6th
17:00 – 19:00 Parade, Technical Inspections and Autograph session in Downtown Hasselt
Friday, October 7th
14:05 – 14:35 ELITE 1 Practice (30 min)
14:40 – 15:10 ELITE 2 Practice (30 min)
16:45 – 17:15 ELITE 1 Final Practice (30 min)
17:20 – 17:50 ELITE 2 Final Practice (30 min)
Saturday, October 8th LIVE ON FANSCHOICE.TV
10:35 – 10:52 ELITE 1 Qualifying (8 min) / ELITE 1 Superpole (5 min)
10:58 – 11:15 ELITE 2 Qualifying (8 min) / ELITE 2 Superpole (5 min)
13:40 ELITE 1 Race 1 (16 laps – 64.18 km)
16:45 ELITE 2 Race 1 (16 laps – 64.18 km)
Sunday, October 9th LIVE ON FANSCHOICE.TV
10:05 – 10:15 Warmup (10 min)
11:40 ELITE 2 Race 2 (16 laps – 64.18 km)
16:05 ELITE 1 Race 2 (16 laps – 64.18 km)