Sports
NASCAR WHELEN EURO SERIES AT LE MANS
KUMPEN AND DUMAREY 2014 CHAMPS
Podium@LeMans
The final race of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season crowns Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) as the 2014 ELITE 1 Division champion by just one point over Ander Vilarino (#2 TFT-Banco Santander Chevrolet SS) and highlighted the strength of Eddie Cheever III (#51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), who dominates at the Circuit Bugatti en route to his third win of the season and a clear success in the Jerome Sarran Trophy. Kumpen conqueres the title in his first NASCAR season by finishing second in the ELITE 1 Sunday Race, two positions ahead of Vilarino.“It´s fantastic to win the Championship in our first year. I've been following NASCAR all my life and now that NASCAR is in Europe, to be the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion
is a dream come true,“ said Kumpen. "I want to thank my fantastic team, NASCAR, the organization, Whelen Engineering and all the sponsors. I´m so happy to be in this Series and I´ll be back next year to go for title again!" Vilarino started from pole and took the bonus points for leading the first lap ““ completed behind the safety car due to a track still wet after a morning shower ““ but Cheever took the lead as the green flag waved and immediately drove away from the rest of the field, leaving the two title contenders in second and third, with Vilarino ahead of Kumpen. The Belgian made his move at La Chapelle on lap 5 and started chasing down the leader. On the same lap, Vilarino lost another position to Frederic Gabillon
(#12 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and the championship lead. The Spaniard tried to fight back, but ended up fourth under the checkered flag, behind Cheever, Kumpen and Gabillon.
Bert Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) was fifth entering the last lap, but slipped to seventh due to a contact with Victor Guerin (#83 Brazil Team Chevrolet SS). Bas Leinders (#32 RCP - Marc VDS Toyota Camry) inherited the fifth place, ahead of the Brazilian and the Belgian. Freddy Nordström (#44 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) closed eight, ahead of Fabrizio Armetta (#31 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) ““ the 2014 Challenger Trophy winner ““ and Wilfried Boucenna (#22 Overdrive-Buffalo Chevrolet Camaro).
Bert Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) was fifth entering the last lap, but slipped to seventh due to a contact with Victor Guerin (#83 Brazil Team Chevrolet SS). Bas Leinders (#32 RCP - Marc VDS Toyota Camry) inherited the fifth place, ahead of the Brazilian and the Belgian. Freddy Nordström (#44 Still Racing Chevrolet Camaro) closed eight, ahead of Fabrizio Armetta (#31 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) ““ the 2014 Challenger Trophy winner ““ and Wilfried Boucenna (#22 Overdrive-Buffalo Chevrolet Camaro).
The 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season comes to end with Maxime Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) celebrating his ELITE 2 Division Championship thanks to a calculated performance in a race that he ended in fifth place and was made difficult by the heavy rain conditions on the Circuit Bugatti in Le Mans. First to take the checkered flag was his debutant teammate Gabriele Gardel (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS), who got his first win in what was just his second NASCAR start. It was a real triumph for the PK Carsport team. The belgian squad also won the ELITE 1 Division Championship with Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS), the ELITE 2 Division Championship with Dumarey and the Team Championship with the #24 Chevrolet SS.
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