The 2025 NASCAR Euro Series PRO championship is shaping up for one of the most dramatic battles in series history. Two Italian powerhouses – 2023 champion Gianmarco Ercoli and reigning titleholder Vittorio Ghirelli – head into the playoffs dead even at the top of the standings with 252 points apiece.

The regular season came to a close at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, where all drivers dropped their worst results. For Ghirelli, that meant crossing out a DNF caused by braking issues in Saturday’s race. The Fasano native bounced back in style, posting the fastest lap after a long pit stop, saving his Hoosier tires, and storming to victory in Sunday’s Round 8 – his second win of the season – to lock himself into second place overall.

Ercoli, however, stole the spotlight on Saturday. The Alumitec Racing driver claimed his third win of 2025 – and third in a row after sweeping Brands Hatch – to take over the championship lead. With one more victory than his rival, the Roman holds the tiebreaker as the green flag will wave on the playoffs at Motorsportarena Oschersleben on September 20-21.

Jouffreau, Krasonis, and more contenders in the hunt

Frenchman Paul Jouffreau kept himself in striking distance by dropping a tough result from Brands Hatch. The RDV Competition driver enters the playoffs with 240 points, just 12 behind the leaders. With two wins on the year but a challenging weekend in Most, the young star is ready to bounce back in Germany.

19 points back sits Thomas Krasonis, Ghirelli’s teammate at PK Carsport. The Greek driver opened the season with his maiden PRO victory in Valencia and survived a wild airborne moment at the start of Sunday’s race in Most to secure valuable points. Veteran Sebastiaan Bleekemolen completes the top-5 in the standings, with local hero Martin Doubek close behind.

Juniors and Challengers ready for their own battles

The Junior Trophy fight is tighter than ever. Liam Hezemans holds third in the special classification for drivers 25 and under behind Jouffreau and Krasonis, sitting seventh overall. He has just a single point over American Garrett Lowe, who celebrated his first overall podium at Most and is also in the Junior mix. In the Challenger Trophy for elite amateurs, Claudio Cappelli leads the way in 15th overall. Davit Kajaia trails by just six points, with Max Lanza rounding out the top-3 in 19th.

With four double-points races on the schedule, every lap in the playoffs could prove decisive. The battle for the championship and the trophies is wide open – and the road to glory begins now. Fans can follow all the action live at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and stream every race on the EuroNASCAR YouTube channel.

NASCAR Euro Series PR