China Grove, N.C. (February 5, 2016) – NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver Ulysse Delsaux will make his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut at New Smyrna Speedway in the JET Tools 150 on February 14th with Precision Performance Motorsports. Delsaux will pilot the No. 46 Nexteer Toyota Camry in the K&N Pro Series East season opener and the first race of the year for PPM.
A member of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Driver Development Program, Delsaux’s path to NASCAR in the U.S. is part of the Nexteer Road to Daytona program – the path designed by the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Nexteer Automotive to grant European drivers the best opportunities to race in NACAR in the U.S. At 18-years old, Delsaux, from Troyes, France, is the youngest member of the Nexteer Road to Daytona program and earned his chance to enter his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series race by posting strong results in Whelen Euro Series in 2014 and 2015.
Delsaux, who earned three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in the Whelen Euro Series ELITE 2 division in 2015, scored his first podium finish on an oval track at France’s Tours Speedway, an experience that will certainly be beneficial when he makes his first laps in a K&N Pro Series car at the fast half-mile New Smyrna Speedway. Delsaux, who lives his passion for racing as a way to overcome a form of autism, successfully tested a late model at New Smyrna Speedway in August 2015, however the race was rained out.
Delsaux will spend the day before the race testing at New Smyrna Speedway with the PPM team, led by crew chief Charles Denike. Denike will guide Delsaux through multiple scenarios all designed to prepare for the best possible result on race day. Veteran K&N Pro Series driver Brandon Gdovic will coach Delsaux throughout the event and provide training on the car, track, and race conditions.
“It is such an honor for me to enter this race, because it means that all the work we have done since the beginning of my career is paying off and the NASCAR family recognizes me as a good NASCAR driver. I have to thank everybody at NASCAR, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Nexteer Automotive for this amazing opportunity,” said Delsaux. “This is just the beginning and I hope to demonstrate I deserve more opportunities like this. I will enjoy every lap and give everything I have to show that I am a good NASCAR driver. I hope for a clean, solid race.”
The JET Tools 150 at New Smyrna Speedway will begin a big week for the partnership between PPM and the Whelen Euro Series. The following weekend will see Anthony Kumpen make his first start at Daytona International Speedway in the PowerSharesQQQ 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, February 20th driving the No. 46 Lease Plan Chevrolet Camaro for PPM. Both drivers will compete for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series championship in 2016, where Delsaux will move up to the ELITE 1 division.
Learn more about how racing helped Delsaux overcome autism here.
About Nexteer Automotive:
Nexteer Automotive (HK:1316) is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business solely dedicated to electric and hydraulic steering systems, steering columns and driveline products for original equipment manufacturers. The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Its 11,000-member workforce serves more than 50 customers in every major region of the world. The company has 20 manufacturing plants, five regional engineering centers and nine customer service centers strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, FCA, Ford, GM, Toyota, PSA Peugeot Citroen and VW, as well as automakers in India, China, and South America. www.nexteer.com
About NASCAR Whelen Euro Series:
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series was founded in 2008 and established the NASCAR official European Series in January 2012 thanks to a long-term partnership signed with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), Team FJ, a Motorsports company located in Blois, France, and Whelen Engineering as title sponsor of the Series. The season is made up of 24 races, equally split among ELITE 1 and ELITE 2 divisions, on the best European tracks. Euro NASCAR introduced a stunning innovation on July 7-8, 2012 by organizing the first ever NASCAR race on an oval track in Europe on a half-mile speedway built in the downtown of Tours (France). With four races in two days, these 450 HP V8 monsters provide pure racing action and thrilling bumper-to-bumper battles as well as a lot of family fun around the track! In the pure NASCAR tradition, race fans can get closer to the action than ever and feel the unique in-Europe paddock atmosphere thanks to drivers, teams and cars always available for the spectators. The series attracts drivers from all over the world, all willing to fight on track for the win and take the first step towards becoming a NASCAR star in the U.S.
About Precision Performance Motorsports:
Owned by Richard Gdovic and managed by Charles Denike, Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM) is a China Grove, North Carolina and Gloucester, Virginia-based auto racing team that fields entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR Southern Modified Tour, and Whelen All-American Series – Late Models and Modifieds. PPM provides a comprehensive driver development program, race car rentals, setup and pull down rig services, test consultation, and driver coaching. For more information, visit Precision Performance Motorsports on Facebook, @PrecisionPerf on Twitter, or visit the website at www.ppm646.com.
