An injured shoulder kept Valentino Gambarotto out of action for the regular season finale at Autodrom Most – The Italian driver is pushing relentlessly to make his return with CAAL Racing for his upcoming home event
- Valentino Gambarotto suffered a fractured shoulder over the summer hiatus
- The Italian-Cuban competitor was forced to sit out the NASCAR GP Czech Republic
- The CAAL Racing driver aims to return to action for his upcoming home event in Italy
As the NASCAR Euro Series grid gathered at Autodrom Most for the regular season climax, the #73 CAAL Racing machine sat idle during the OPEN sessions. Typically found driving behind the wheel of the powerful V8 cars, the Italian-Cuban Valentino Gambarotto was relegated to following the action from his living room sofa. An unfortunate broken shoulder kept the 18-year-old sidelined throughout the Czech round, yet he remains fully focused on making his return at Autodromo di Vallelunga on September 19-20.
“I’m doing pretty well, all things considered,” he said. “Unfortunately, I broke my shoulder about a month ago, so I wasn’t able to race at Most. Honestly, it was heartbreaking having to watch the race live from my couch – I really wished I could have been there with the team. But I’m getting better now, and I’m giving it everything I’ve got to recover and be ready for Vallelunga. I’m really looking forward to being back at the track.”
Contesting his second full campaign alongside CAAL Racing in the NASCAR Euro Series, Gambarotto has made significant strides throughout 2026. Securing a top-5 finish together with a pair of top-10 results demonstrated the impressive talent of the young driver, who enjoys strong backing from Miami’s Cuban community. Although drivers dropped their worst regular season score, missing Most leaves him with a zero-point result, placing him 22nd in the championship standings entering his home event. Nevertheless, with double points awarded in the Playoffs, the Italian driver remains well-positioned to complete the year with a strong performance.
While official confirmation is still pending regarding his physical readiness, Gambarotto remains fully committed to taking the grid for his crucial home event near Rome. The entire NASCAR Euro Series family extends its warmest wishes to the CAAL Racing driver for a swift recovery, eager to see him return to the cockpit of the #73 Ford Mustang and perform before his enthusiastic Italian fans at Vallelunga. Fans can secure their free tickets for the upcoming NASCAR GP Italy to experience the Playoff Semi-Final action firsthand at the circuit, or tune in via www.nascar.eu/watch to catch every session live on their preferred broadcast platform.
Featured by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
