With the NASCAR XFINITY Series taking a break in the action this weekend, series regular Jeffrey Earnhardt made the trip overseas to try his hand at racing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
NASCAR’s third international racing series, the Whelen Euro Series races on a mix of oval and road courses throughout Europe. This weekend, the series is taking part in the American Speedfest III at the historic Brands Hatch Circuit in Kent, England.
The grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt and nephew of Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeffrey climbed behind the wheel of the No. 55 car for the weekend’s events.
“We are very happy to have Jeffrey racing with us at Brands Hatch,” said Jerome Galpin, president/CEO of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in a statement ahead of the event. “The Earnhardt family is one of the most famous in motorsport and it demonstrates, once again, the close relationship between the European and American NASCAR series. More and more drivers are crossing the ocean: Euro drivers to race NASCAR in the USA and US drivers to join the Euro-NASCAR pack which is fast becoming one of the premier series in Europe.”
Earnhardt took to the track earlier in the week to acclimate himself to the cars and the track before competing.
The 24-year-old got the hang of it once practice kicked off this weekend.
Not only did Earnhardt have to adjust to the new cars and new circuit, the daily driver meeting was not exactly the same as the American version. You’re not in Kannapolis anymore, Mr. Earnhardt.
In Saturday’s main race, Earnhardt got off track and into a sand trap, completing just 15 of the 30 laps and ended the day 20th.
The third annual event features two NASCAR Whelen Euro Series races each day on Saturday and Sunday, while fans can enjoy live music, replica vehicles from the movie “Cars,” as well as hot rods and replica NASCAR cars, including a No. 43 1970 Road Runner Superbird and an actual 2007-2010 No. 4 Morgan McClure Chevrolet Sprint Cup Series car driven by Ward Burton, Scott Wimmer and Kevin LePage.
Watch the weekend’s NASCAR Whelen Euro Series events from Brands Hatch on FansChoice.TV.
