NASCAR notebook: Day remains red-hot in Euro Series

A familiar name to many American NASCAR fans, Alon Day, picked up his 11th and 12th career victories in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season-opening races in Valencia, Spain over the weekend. Meanwhile, an American newcomer to the series, former NASCAR Xfinity and Monster Energy Cup champion Bobby Labonte, picked up a top-10 (eighth place) in the weekend’s second race.

Day, the first Israeli to compete in a major NASCAR touring series, is a member of the 2016 NASCAR Next program and competes stateside in the national series whenever given the opportunity.

He is absolutely a star across the pond. The 26-year old defending NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champ is already off to a strong start in 2018, sweeping the Spanish race weekend to give him a series-best 12 career victories. Including the playoffs, he’s won five of the last six races dating back to the 2017 season.

AMERICAN ON THE GRID

Labonte, of Corpus Christi, Texas, is making his inaugural full season NASCAR Whelen Euro Series run. He started 14th on Sunday and finished eighth in the No. 18 Yacco Toyota Camry — a promising improvement from the season-opener Saturday when he started 20th and finished 14th. The effort is especially impressive considering that other than Britain’s Brands Hatch road course, all of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series venues will be brand new to the American NASCAR champion.

“Happy that we continue to improve and looking forward to the next race in Italy. For now, time to pack up and head home. Thanks to @CircuitValencia and Valencia, Spain, it’s been great.” Labonte said Sunday on Twitter.

DOOR TO DOOR

Two-time NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion Anthony Kumpen, 39, of Belgium, continued to provide thrilling competition for Day in the season-opening races in Spain. Kumpen finished third and runner-up in the Valencia races.

Kumpen, the uncle of Formula One star Max Verstappen, is another driver who has competed in NASCAR Xfinity Series over the past few years. His record in the Euro Series includes two championships (2014 and 2016) and a championship runner-up to Day in 2017.

UP NEXT

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will get back to action May 18-20 in Brescia, Franciacorta, Italy, on the Autodromo di Franciacorta.

–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.