Successful US comeback: Gil Linster finishes eighth in New Smyrna
Gil Linster competed in an oval race for the first time since 2020 as part of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway – The Luxembourger immediately finished in eighth place
The US adventure goes into the next round: Gil Linster was back at the New Smyrna Speedway after 2020 and contested two races in the Pro Late Model class as part of the 2023 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. In the first race, the Luxemburger drove to eighth place and made a statement in the Sunshine State Florida. In the second race, Linster finished 17th in the number 1X car fielded by 1X Racing.
Linster had actually planned to compete in three races in the south of Daytona, but one had to be canceled due to rain. Nevertheless, Linster is pleased with his return to the US and hopes that it will give a new boost to his plans to gain a foothold as a race driver in the States. as well. The 29-year-old had ventured across the pond in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic set him back.
“It feels so good to be back,” Linster says of his trip to the Sunshine State, where he will also attend the legendary Daytona 500 on February 19. “It’s great to be racing here in the States and I have the perfect support this year with a team that takes this World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing very seriously. The whole team is really invested in supporting a European driver to get good results here in Florida. In Qualifying we were only three tenths of a second off the pole so the whole team did a great job.”
“As a driver I am very tough with myself, but I’m really happy with eighth place considering the top teams that were in the race. I had a bit of luck with my strong qualifying lap that other fast riders didn’t get. So I was able to stay around them but stay safe and defensive. It was a brilliant experience to learn and the level is incredibly high as they race almost twice a week. It was a brand new car and some circumstances were not easy.I had an amazing coach for the races and that really made a difference.”
Linster joined the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) in 2017 and has had solid performances in his first two seasons in the European offshoot with CAAL Racing. In 2018, he finished fifth in the EuroNASCAR 2 championship. In 2021, he returned to NWES with a part-time program for DF1 Racing before racing another full-time season with CAAL Racing in 2022.
In 2023, Linster is looking to return to racing in EuroNASCAR, in addition to a few trips to the United States. However, he is not yet allowed to reveal where the Luxembourger is headed. He says, “At the moment, we are finalizing our plans for the 2023 NWES season, and we are very confident that we will be back on the grid and fighting for race wins. But it’s too early to share details about my plans for next season in Europe. I love NASCAR racing and look forward to competing again this year.”
Linster is not the only NWES driver scheduled to compete in the 2023 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna. Thomas Krasonis has announced a three-race program that begins Wednesday, February 15. The Greek will compete in two 35-lap races for Jamie Skinner’s team before battling for a good finish in the main 100-lap race on Friday. For Krasonis, it will be his first ever oval race.
