Bruno Mulders celebrated his maiden NASCAR Euro Series race win at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben – The Dutchman prevailed over Thomas Krasonis in an epic battle
- Bruno Mulders grabbed his maiden NASCAR Euro Series OPEN race win
- The 17-year-old fended off all attacks thrown by Thomas Krasonis
- Team Bleekemolen celebrated in Victory Lane after a stunning race
Bruno Mulders, the 17-year-old rookie, made a monumental splash in the NASCAR Euro Series OPEN, securing his maiden career victory in a thrilling race at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The Dutch rookie, representing Team Bleekemolen, showcased incredible determination and skill to fend off relentless pressure from veteran competitor Thomas Krasonis, culminating in a spectacular debut win in the NASCAR world.
Mulder’s car had to be repaired after a Big One in the PRO race earlier on Saturday, but the Team Bleekemolen crew brought the #72 Toyota Camry to the starting grid just in time. The Dutchman started the race from the pole position and immediately took the lead ahead of Thomas Toffel and Krasonis. He managed to open up a lead of around 1.5 seconds, but got under pressure when managing his way through lapped cars after Krasonis got around Toffel.
With the checkered flag in sight, Krasonis launched a relentless assault, but Mulders masterfully defended against every charge from the Greek contender, holding onto the top spot. Even on the final lap, the 17-year-old was under immense pressure from his pursuer, but Mulders kept his cool under fire, driving home to secure his maiden win in NASCAR and in his auto racing career. The young gun celebrated in Victory Lane with his crew, taking his first sip of champagne in NASCAR racing.
“Very good, I’m full of adrenaline,” said Mulders happily after also winning the race in the Master Trophy. “I’m so happy it finally happened during the season. We worked so hard with the team before the race and got the car ready just in time. The battle with Thomas was excellent; it was fair racing and quite intense, to be honest.”
Krasonis stretched his championship lead in the OPEN division with a strong second-place finish. Despite battling as hard as possible, the Greek driver managed the risk and brought home important points for his championship charge with PK Carsport.
Gil Linster wheeled the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang to a strong third-place finish, battling hard to best Thomas Toffel. Linster, a NASCAR veteran, fought back from recent health issues, admitting he wasn’t 100 percent after his comeback at Autodrom Most, yet still managed a top-3 run. Toffel and Claudio Cappelli rounded out the top-5, with Cappelli also taking home the Legend Trophy honors.
Thomas Dombrowski brought his Camaro to a sixth-place finish, clinching second in the Master Trophy, just ahead of Martin Doubek and Jordan O’Brien, who rounded out the class podium. Valerio Marzi and Sandro Tavartkiladze secured top-10 spots, while Melvin de Groot and Kenko Miura joined Cappelli on the Legend Trophy podium. Happinessa took the win in the Lady Trophy, crossing the line in 23rd.
Krasonis, the Athens native, put the pedal to the metal, racking up 70 points to boost his total to 316. He’s now leading the overall standings by 15 points, leaving Doubek in his rearview mirror for now. Mulders’ first trip to Victory Lane and Dombrowski’s consistent finishes have those two Master Trophy hotshots sharing the third-place spot tied in points. It was a tough outing for Melvin de Groot, who spun down to fifth, but he’s still leading the Legend Trophy and has an outside shot at the OPEN championship. Happinessa is still the queen of the track in the Lady Trophy, holding strong in 17th.
That’s two down, two to go! The 2025 NASCAR GP Germany has delivered two thrillers, and Sunday promises even more Playoff action. The OPEN division kicks off the day at 10:35 CEST, with the PRO race bringing the house down at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben at 13:55 CEST. Don’t miss a lap – catch all the excitement live on the official EuroNASCAR YouTube channel and TV broadcasts worldwide!
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Adrian Sausemuth
