Six drivers separated by just 47 points are heading into the season finale at Circuit Zolder with everything on the line
- Six drivers are separated by only 47 points in the overall V8GP standings
- Double points are on the line during the NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder
- One champion will be crowned, but many want to grab the crown
The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series V8GP season is charging toward a high-stakes finale at Circuit Zolder on October 17-18. The legendary Belgian circuit will host two decisive feature races in the premier division, and with six drivers separated by just 47 points, the battle for the championship crown is wide open. Etching their names into the NASCAR Whelen Hall of Champions remains the ultimate prize, and with double points on the line – yielding a maximum haul of 176 points – nobody can afford to play it safe. Here is a breakdown of the primary title contenders heading into the 2026 V8GP Finals.
Vittorio Ghirelli: The Italian driver leads the standings by 31 points, but the Fasano native has zero room for error with double points waiting in both feature races. The PK Carsport frontrunner is chasing history, aiming to become the first driver to secure a three-peat championship in the NASCAR Euro Series. Driving for the Belgian powerhouse on their home turf at Zolder, Ghirelli knows exactly what it takes to hoist the championship trophy, having dominated the field with the team in 2024 and 2025. The fight is officially on, and the “Iceman” rolls into Belgium with the biggest target on his back.
Nelson Piquet Jr.: The former Formula One driver, Formula E World Champion, and U.S. NASCAR race winner is lurking right behind in second. The Brazilian standout swept the Semi-Finals at Autodromo di Vallelunga, catapulting himself straight into championship contention. Piquet Jr. might be a rookie in the NASCAR Euro Series, but the 41-year-old brings unmatched global racecraft and blistering pure pace to the table. Piloting for Alumitec Racing, the South American star has the speed to challenge Ghirelli, though he will almost certainly need trips to Victory Lane at Zolder to close the gap.
Jordan O’Brien: “Mr. Last-Minute Deal” has been one of the biggest stories of the 2026 V8GP season. The American driver scored his maiden NASCAR Euro Series victory at Autodrom Most and chased Ghirelli all season long. Accustomed to putting rides together down to the eleventh hour, O’Brien has had to battle hard not just on the racetrack, but behind the scenes for the funding required to stay in the title hunt. Behind the wheel for Hendriks Motorsport – a proven championship-winning outfit – O’Brien looks to rebound from a tough Semi-Finals outing at Vallelunga and slash away his deficit of 42 points to Ghirelli with strong results in Belgium.
Thomas Krasonis: The Greek driver enters the weekend fourth in points tied with O’Brien, facing a deficit of only 42. The reigning OPEN champion had his breakthrough campaign in 2025 with PK Carsport and is hungry to claim stock car racing’s top prize in Europe. To make it happen, Krasonis must outperform not only Piquet Jr., but also his own teammate. With double points on the board, the margin is razor-thin, giving Krasonis a legitimate path to the crown if the driver on the other side of the garage makes even a slight misstep around the technical Zolder layout.
Garrett Lowe: The American “Hybrid Racer” has been electric since joining BS+BREMOTION in 2025. While still hunting for his breakthrough NASCAR Euro Series trip to Victory Lane, the Charlotte native has built his title bid on relentless consistency and raw pace. Chasing from fifth position and just 47 points behind Ghirelli, Lowe has a solid shot at staging an upset. Back in 2023, BS+COMPETITION staged a wet-weather clinic to claim one of the most dominant victories in series history at Zolder; if the clouds roll in, the team will be eager to see rain level the playing field once again.
Martin Doubek: The two-time OPEN champion has quietly worked his way through the pack with Hendriks Motorsport, and when the stakes are high, the Czech veteran consistently delivers. Sitting sixth in points and tied with Lowe, Doubek represents the true dark horse in this championship brawl. No driver on the grid has turned in more competitive laps than the Litomsyl native: With 12 seasons of NASCAR Euro Series experience under his belt – often competing across both divisions on a single weekend – that deep reservoir of seat time could prove to be Doubek’s ultimate weapon in the closing laps.
The Bigger Picture: With 11 drivers mathematically within 100 points, the NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder are poised to become an unpredictable shootout where a single mishap could completely upend the standings. Race winner Paul Jouffreau sits seventh (-61), followed by 2023 champion Gianmarco Ercoli in eighth (-73), while Vladimiros Tziortzis (-92), Fabrizio Armetta (-97), and Jack Davidson (-99) all sit within striking distance of the frontrunners. The stage is set, the green flag awaits, and only one driver will walk away as the 2026 NASCAR Euro Series champion at Circuit Zolder on October 17-18.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
