Scenes from 2017 Whelen Euro championship weekend

By | Published: December 7, 2017 17

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

NASCAR races in Europe are just like those in America ... except when they're not. Here's an inside glimpse at the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship weekend in Belgium.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Couch potatoes? Hardly. Drivers Nicki Petersen (left) and Lucas Lasserre (right) hang out. Petersen is from Denmark and Lasserre, the 2010 series champion, is from France.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Quiet (and pristine) garage pic.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Series officials imported how NASCAR races look, sound and feel and brought that experience across the pond, hence the cheerleaders in Victory Lane and football players at the podium. Here, Elite 2 champion Thomas Ferrando gets a ride.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Why yes, I will autograph your NASCAR tattoo.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Cars take off at Circuit Zolder, site of the 2017 championship weekend.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

The winding road course is nearly 2.5 miles in length and has more than 10 turns.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Hey, champ. Alon Day flashes that title-winning grin.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

There's no telling how high Alon Day can climb in his NASCAR career.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

This is something new -- celebratory donuts in Europe. Day actually asked for permission prior to the race.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

The other red, white and blue. Guillaume Deflandre (from Belgium) is carried away in celebration after winning the final Elite 2 race of the season. It was the first win for Deflandre's team in its debut season.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Alon Day won the 2017 Elite 1 championship, and he's viewed as a potential superstar in America.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Driver Stienes Longin (from Belgium, driver of the No. 11 PK Carsport Chevy) signs autographs for the fans, a similarity between NASCAR in Europe and NASCAR in America. Behind him is two-time series champion Anthony Kumpen.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

One of the most important parts of winning the championship? The celebration!

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Not bad for a guy who got left behind during a parade through the local town prior to the race.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

NASCAR just means more, no matter where the racing is.

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NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard

Championship portrait. Perhaps one day, Alon Day will have this same photo made following a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.