A close Junior Trophy battle is expected for the NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder with only 19 points separating the top-3 drivers in the special classification
- The top-3 Junior Trophy drivers are separated by 19 points heading to the Finals
- Thomas Krasonis, Garrett Lowe and Paul Jouffreau will battle for every position
- Jack Davidson and Vinnie Meskelis can mount a comeback with double points on offer in Zolder
The 2026 NASCAR Euro Series Finals at Circuit Zolder will not only crown a new champion in V8GP, it will also decide one of the most closely contested Junior Trophy battles in the history of European NASCAR. Only 19 points separated the three best youngsters in the premier division and with two races to be held at the legendary 4.002 kilometer circuit on 17-18 October, any one of them can come out as the special classification champion. However, with double points on the line, outside contenders can still mount a comeback if the top drivers made a misstep at the woods of Limburg. Here is a breakdown of how the Junior Trophy is shaping up heading to the decider in Belgium.
Thomas Krasonis: The Greek moves to the top of the Junior Trophy after securing a double podium at the start of the Playoffs in Italy. While Krasonis has yet to visit the Victory Lane in 2026, the three Junior Trophy wins and four overall podiums that he scored is proof of his growing consistency as one of the sport’s best young talents. With a lead of just five points, claiming a victory at Zolder will not only boost Krasonis’ bid for the Junior Trophy, it will also put him in prime contention for the overall title as he also sits within striking distance from his PK Carsport teammate Vittorio Ghirelli in the main battle.
Garrett Lowe: The American “Hybrid Racer” made his presence known from the opening round at Spain. A strong podium finish gave the BS+BREMOTION star the early advantage in the Junior Trophy and he retained his lead throughout the regular season with consistent finishes and his maiden Stromwatches.com Pole Award in the UK. Losing the overall Junior Trophy lead at Italy was expected to only be a minor setback for Lowe, who is still hungry for his first ever victory in V8GP. With BS+BREMOTION’s proven track record in Belgium and a deficit of only five points to Krasonis, the Gastonia native will push his #99 Chevrolet to the limit as he aims for both his maiden Victory Lane visit and the Junior Trophy title.
Paul Jouffreau: The Frenchman has been beset with numerous misfortunes that left him trailing for much of the season, but never count out the driver of the #3 RDV Competition Ford Mustang. Two overall wins – one at his home race in France and another in the UK – is a reminder of just how fast the reigning two-time Junior Trophy champion is. Penalties in Italy might have cost Jouffreau crucial points, but he can control his destiny during the Finals: A sweep will give the 22-year old a points swing of 20 points at the minimum. With Jouffreau sitting only 19 points behind Krasonis, this points swing is one that his rivals will not be able to respond to.
The Bigger Picture: Jack Davidson and Vinnie Meskelis are trailing by 57 and 65 points respectively, but they remained within mathematical chance of winning the Junior Trophy. With 176 points on offer in Belgium, a misstep by the top-3 competitors will instantly put Davidson and Meskelis back into the hunt. If the cards played in their favor, the Scotsman and the Brazilian-American can pull off the unlikely comeback that will be remembered for years to come. Everything is on the line at Circuit Zolder, and only one driver will walk away as the 2026 Junior Trophy champion.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
