Thomas Krasonis has officially clinched the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series OPEN championship, reaching the pinnacle of European stock car racing – The Greek driver made history in his home country, cementing his legacy in an unforgettable season

• Thomas Krasonis is the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series OPEN champion
• Since 2019, the Greek has been fighting to become one of the best drivers
• This is the journey of the Athens native in 2025

Joining the NASCAR Euro Series OPEN division and immediately battling for the championship is a rare feat in the history of this unpredictable series. It takes time to tame these pure V8 machines without any driving assists, learn how to set up the car, and outrun the fierce competition. For Thomas Krasonis, he soaked up every bit of information since his debut in 2019 to finally conquer the NASCAR Euro Series OPEN title seven years later in 2025. With PK Carsport, the Greek sensation made his breakthrough in European stock car racing in an unforgettable season.

Valencia: Krasonis is a Winner

After a strong season with Marko Stipp Motorsport in 2024, Krasonis made the jump to the NASCAR Euro Series powerhouse PK Carsport over the winter. The now 23-year-old climbed behind the wheel of the #13 Chevrolet Camaro, planning to run double duty in both divisions to maximize his seat time and gather every bit of knowledge from the Belgian team with championship winning credibility. But nobody in the garage was ready for what unfolded at the season opener at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.

Krasonis turned heads, grabbing the Stromwatches.com Pole Award by a razor-thin 0.088 seconds over Claudio Capelli in qualifying. That wasn’t just a flash in the pan; it was a wildfire spreading, as the Greek proved in the season opener. Almost four seconds clear of Gil Linster, Krasonis wheeled his way to a maiden NASCAR race win, breaking the ice and firmly planting himself as a championship threat in the OPEN division.

But then, just as quickly as the flames ignited, the water rolled in. Krasonis got caught up in a fender-bender with his teammate Thomas Dombrowski in the season’s second outing, sending him to the back of the pack in 19th. Meanwhile, the reigning champ Martin Doubek took the checkered flag, leaving phenomenon Bruno Mulders and surprising veteran Kenko Miura in his rearview mirror. But it was Linster, thanks to his consistent performance, who drove out of Valencia as the championship points leader with Miura, Patrick Schober, Melvin de Groot, and Sandro Tavartkildze hot on his heels. As for Krasonis? Despite that earlier win, he was only running ninth in the standings.

Vallelunga: Krasonis Sets the Course

Next up, the twists and high-speed straights of Autodromo di Valellunga in Italy and Krasonis laid down a blistering lap in qualifying, snatching another Pole Award like a true contender. When the green flag dropped for the first race, he put on a clinic, leaving Mulders eating his dust and crossing the finish line a dominant 8.840 seconds ahead of the 17-year-old Dutchman. Doubek, on the other hand, had a tough break, finishing a disappointing 15th after battling some gremlins under the hood. That put a big dent in his championship hopes against Krasonis on a picture-perfect Saturday in the heart of Rome.

Consistency is key to hoisting that championship trophy, and unlike in Valencia, Krasonis proved it at Vallelunga. Despite not having the raw speed to outrun race winner Doubek or even Dombrowski and Schober, Krasonis wisely settled for fourth, racking up crucial points on his path to the title. He had now taken the points lead after four rounds, holding a slim three-point advantage over Schober and Dombrowski. De Groot and Doubek rounded out the top-5 after two white-knuckle races in Italy.

Brands Hatch: Craziest Races of 2025

In front of a roaring crowd of nearly 50,000 fans at Brands Hatch, Krasonis laid down a respectable qualifying run, wheeling his Chevrolet into the third starting spot, right behind Thomas Toffel and Doubek. He was a mere 0.071 seconds off the Swiss driver’s pace, proving that anything was possible. Then, the heavens opened, drenching the Indy Circuit of Brands Hatch and creating a legendary moment. Pit crews scrambled for rain tires, while some drivers gambled, cars spun wildly as the rain truly poured down. De Groot seized the opportunity, battling through the chaos to score his maiden NASCAR race win while Krasonis found himself in a world of trouble, limping home in 20th.

But under the sun in Great Britain, Krasonis rallied on Sunday, clinching a strong second-place finish behind race winner Doubek after breaking the all-time lap record at the famous Indy Circuit. However, the rain-soaked Saturday race threw a wrench in the works, completely shaking up the championship standings. De Groot now led the pack with Schober and Doubek hot on his heels. Krasonis found himself in fifth, trailing his PK Carsport teammate Dombowski. It’s no secret that the OPEN division is considered the most unpredictable championship in the NASCAR Euro Series and the first three events of 2025 demonstrated it very well.

Most: Krasonis Dominates

The Autodrom Most in Czechia, home turf for two-time champ Doubek, saw the veteran prove his mastery in qualifying, besting Krasonis by a whisker – a mere 0.076 seconds – to snatch the Pole Award. But when the green flag dropped for the first race, it was the Greek who outran the field. After a pile-up in Turn 1 shook things up, Jordan O’Brien initially took the checkered flag, only to be hit with a five-second penalty after the race for a false restart. That moved Krasonis to first, just 0.013 seconds ahead of the American. Doubek, meanwhile, crossed the line in fourth, losing some valuable ground in the championship hunt.

Krasonis, revved up and ready to roll, then absolutely dominated the Czech NASCAR event, leaving Doubek in his rearview mirror by a commanding 1.030 seconds in Sunday’s race. The checkered flag at Autodrom Most marked the end of the regular season, meaning every driver had to drop their worst result of the four events. When the dust settled, Krasonis surged into the championship lead, a mere five points ahead of Doubek. De Groot secured third with Schober and Dombrowski hot on his heels.

Oschersleben: Strong Start to the Playoffs

The green flag dropped on the NASCAR GP Germany with 17-year-old Mulders snagging his first Pole Award, while Krasonis qualified third. Mulders then delivered a powerful drive, taking his starting position all the way to his first checkered flag. Krasonis, however, kept his eyes on the championship trophy. The Greek racked up a solid 70 points in second, crossing the finish line ahead of Linster, Toffel, and Cappelli. Doubek struggled with handling issues at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, finishing a disappointing seventh.

On Sunday, Krasonis powered through the pack in a nail-biting showdown and took the victory in one of the most thrilling races in NASCAR Euro Series history. Six drivers swapped positions for lap after lap, but Krasonis ultimately outmaneuvered Mulders, who made a critical error that sent him back to fifth. The Greek speed demon then left Schober, Cappelli, Linster, Mulders, and Toffel in his rearview mirror. Doubek’s seventh-place finish, far from the front, put a serious dent in his championship defense, especially with double points on the line in the Playoffs. Krasonis cemented his championship lead, extending it to a commanding 35 points over Doubek after the German races.

Zolder: Pure Emotions

Krasonis started the NASCAR Euro Series Finals with a strong second-place finish in qualifying at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. Knowing he couldn’t afford a single misstep, Krasonis drove a smart race, backed by PK Carsport who provided him with a flawless machine on their home track. The Greek clinched the victory in the first race and practically had both hands on the championship trophy by Saturday, while Doubek hustled his Hendriks Ford to a respectable second.

Krasonis only needed to start Sunday’s race to clinch the NASCAR championship. With a flawless machine, the Greek driver took the green flag and cruised his car to a solid third-place finish. While Doubek took the checkered flag in the season finale, the coveted title belonged to Krasonis, whose emotions overflowed with tears after a challenging race weekend in the woods of Limburg. Seven years after joining the series, the 23-year-old finally hoisted the big trophy high.

Krasonis’ journey is a testament to dedication, passion, and an unyielding will to learn and master a challenging yet thrilling car. In the NASCAR Euro Series, you can show up and drive, but dominating it? That’s a whole different beast. This category demands every ounce of a driver’s skill, and it takes time to climb the ranks and become one of Europe’s stock car elite. Krasonis has done just that, and for his achievement – along with the top-3 finishers and all trophy winners – he’ll be celebrated at the NASCAR Banquet in Charlotte, USA, on November 21st.

Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese