FAWKHAM, Kent, England (June 7, 2014) – Eddie Cheever III earned his first NASCAR victory Saturday morning in his third career stock-car start in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
Cheever, the son of former Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr., led every lap at Brands Hatch in England and took over the series’ Elite 1 Division points lead with the victory.
“It’s an incredible weekend for us,” Cheever said. “We didn’t practice yesterday and this morning we made the pole. It was an hard race, but we won it and I couldn’t be happier.”
The Rome, Italy driver – who turned 21 Thursday – won the pole position for the race in qualifying earlier Saturday. His No. 51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet held off the challenges of veteran driver Frederic Gabillon and two-time series champion Ander Vilarino over the 1.198-mile short circuit.
Cheever had finished fourth and sixth in the series’ opening race weekend at Valencia in Spain on April 12-13.
The second of two NASCAR Whelen Euro Series races at Brands Hatch will take the green flag at 1:20 p.m GMT Sunday. Vilarino will start on the pole by virtue of recording the fastest lap in Saturday’s race, while Cheever will start fifth.
