Gabriele Gardel (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) ruled the Adria International Raceway today in the first round of the 2016 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series playoffs and parked his #24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS in Victory Lane after starting from the pole in the ELITE 2 Semi Finals. The Swiss driver took the checkered flag just ahead of his team mate Stienes Longin, who increased his lead in the point standings.
The Swiss driver led from flag to flag, despite being constantly put under pressure by Longin, who found a strong pace in the last few laps and posted fastest lap of the race to start on pole in the ELITE 2 Race 2. Gardel won his second career NASCAR race after going to Victory Lane in the NWES Finals in 2014. Roman Mavlanov (#1 SPV Racing Ford Mustang) reached his first NASCAR podium in his return to NASCAR Whelen Euro Series action and led the Rookie Cup classification.
Hugo Bec (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang) edged Martin Doubek (#5 Dexwet Renauer Team Ford Mustang) for fourth and the Czech took his first career top-5. Dario Caso (#8 Vict Motorsport Ford Mustang) led the Legend Trophy classification and Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) was seventh under the checkered flag at the end of an eventful race, just ahead of Justin Kunz (#44 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), who scored his second consecutive top-10 the season. Renzo Calcinati (#12 Virgin Radio Double-T by Nocentini Ford Mustang) showed a strong pace and finished in 9th position after starting 21st. Marconi De Abreu (#47 Brazil Team Ford Mustang) rounded up the top-10.
Erika Monforte (#88 Eurokart Racing Team Chevrolet SS) won the Lady Cup thanks to her 13th position under the checkered flag.
ELITE 2 Race 2 will be live on Fanschoice.tv on Sunday at 10:30 am CET. Live updates from the track will be available on the Race Central Live page on NASCAR Home Tracks (http://bit.ly/nwes16x04rcl) and on the official NWES social media profiles on Twitter (@EuroNASCAR) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NASCARWhelenEuroSeries/).