Bobby Labonte will compete full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2018.
Labonte will kick off the season this weekend in Valencia, Spain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo driving the No. 18 Yacco Toyota for RDV Competition. He did make two starts in the Euro Series last season at Brands Hatch with a best finish of 10th.
“When I went to Brands Hatch last year, meeting Jerome and Anne Galpin, the series that they have over there is truly exciting,” Labonte said. “It’s obviously different for me, not what I’ve done in the past. I’ve done a lot of racing, different types of racing, enjoying it all. To be able to go over there and to race competitively with them last year at Brands Hatch, even though I’ve never been there before, the whole format is different, everything is different than what you would find out here in the Cup Series or Xfinity or Truck Series, it’s a different environment.
“I’ve always kept in touch with Jerome and Anne trying to get things worked out to where I could go over there again, not necessarily for the whole year. It just turned out that making one trip is great, but we were able to put together the program. ”
The 2018 schedule features 12 races among six tracks and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 21 in Zolder, Belgium.
“It’s going to be exciting to go to places I’ve never been to before,” Labonte said. “My learning curve will have to be pretty sharp.
“The schedule is accommodating. Get to meet new people, go to different places. The competitors are phenomenal. It’s exciting to be a part of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.”
Labonte is one of four drivers to win championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (2000) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (1991). He won 21 races at NASCAR’s highest level, including three crown jewel races – the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. He is one of 29 drivers to win a race in all three NASCAR national series.
“It is a huge milestone for the Whelen Euro Series to welcome an American champion of Bobby’s caliber to contend for the title,” said Jerome Galpin, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President and CEO. “This is another sign of the international appeal the series has delivered. We are proud to have a strong international lineup of 30 drivers and teams.”
