Finale countdown for Euro NASCAR contender

Just two races stand before Australia’s Josh Burdon as he looks to hold onto his slender lead in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series’ Open, with the season Finale at Le Mans this weekend, 11-13th October 2013.

After a round of the lowest of lows and highest of highs at the Semi Final in Monza two weeks ago, Burdon holds just a two point lead, with double points up for grabs sure to take the fight for the Championship right to the final race on Sunday.“I’m very anxious for Le Mans right now,” said Burdon, “I have never been in this position before of heading into the final round of an international championship leading, so it is complete new feelings for me”.

“I am going to approach it the same as I have all year as it seems to have done the job and sit down after qualifying and work out with my team what needs to be done,” said Burdon, “The weather looks like it could be very touch and go especially in Saturdays race so it will be interesting”.

Having joined the Series for the final two rounds of the 2012 season, Le Mans hold the distinction of being the only track that Burdon will race on this year that he has previous racing experience at.

“Having raced at Le Mans last year, I am excited to be heading to a circuit which I have previously competed at, which should make things a bit easier for me to work with the team and focus on preparing the fastest car possible.”

Along with the honour of being crowned European NASCAR Champion in Open, the Series offers not only a cash prize of €5,000 to the winner, but also an invitation to the NASCAR Night of Champions Gala at the NASCAR Hall Of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, America and a sponsored race at Daytona in late February.

“The biggest reward for winning the Championship is definitely getting to race in the USA, at Daytona, the weekend before the famous Dayton 500,” said Burdon, “it’s an unbelievable opportunity, and I want to win it, and use it to help launch my career into the American scene”.

“The invitation to the NASCAR Night of Champions Gala has also been a goal for me, after all the effort and the season we’ve had, I know the guys are as hungry as I am to be rewarded for all of their hard work this year.”

The sixth and final round of the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will hit the Le Mans Circuit on Friday for practice, with one race on Saturday and Sunday with a win worth 86 points and reduces by two points per position, plus up to 10 bonus points per race.

“There are a few people who can still mathematically win the championship that will be putting everything on the line, so I will be racing hard but with minimal risk, but, ultimately two points lead with the double points structure for the final round is very little, so I just need to finish in front of Anthony [Gandon] in both races”.


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