Thomas Krasonis

Last updated
Thomas Krasonis
Krasonis image EuroNASCAR.jpg
Krasonis at NASCAR Euro Series in 2024
Personal information
Birth nameThomas Krasonis
NationalityFlag of Greece.svg  Greece
BornOctober 29, 2001 (age 23)
Athens, Greece
Alma mater Hanze University of Applied Sciences
OccupationRacing driver
Website https://thomaskrasonis.com
Sport
Sport NASCAR Euro Series
Team PK Carsport
Turned proTurned professional in 2023

Thomas Krasonis (born October 29, 2001) is a Greek professional racing driver. He competes in the NASCAR Euro Series, driving the No. 13 car [1] for PK Carsport Racing Team. [2] He is the first Greek professional racing driver in history. [3] [4] He is also the NASCAR Euro Series Ambassador for Greece. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and career

Born and raised in Athens, Krasonis began his career in karting aged five, competing in the Greek National Championship from 2009 to 2011 and the World Karting Series in 2011-2012. He subsequently participated in Rhein-Main Germany Kart Cup in 2013-2014 and placed 3rd in the overall standings of the 2015 Winterpokal Kerpen Germany ADAC German Championship before shifting to car racing. [4]

Krasonis transitioned to Car racing in 2016, by participating in the Junior Saloon Car Championship and placing 6th in 2017 in the overall championship standings. Next, Krasonis competed in the 2018 Mini Challenge Italy, finishing in 4th overall championship position, before making the switch in 2019 to V8-powered stock cars participating in the official NASCAR racing competition of Europe, NASCAR WHELEN Euro Series. In 2020 Krasonis did not race due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period he focused on academic education at university, where he studied Sport Science & Management at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands. [7]

In 2021, Krasonis raced in the NASCAR WHELEN Euro Series Championship Elite 2 category with Academy Motorsport, as a teammate of F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. [8] In 2022, Krasonis stepped up to the premier category of EuroNASCAR, the EuroNASCAR PRO Championship as he competed in both championship categories simultaneously. [9]

In 2023, Krasonis embarked on a new chapter of his racing career, racing selectively in the United States starting with Speedweeks. Krasonis participated in a late model race at New Smyrna Speedway in order to gain experience on oval circuits and move up the ladder of NASCAR in the USA. [10] He had also planned on debuting in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Truck Series that year but that did not end up happening. [11] He would also continue competing in Europe that year in EuroNASCAR with team Marko Stipp Motorsport. For the 2024 racing season, Krasonis selectively raced in the US, World Series of Asphalt [12] part of NASCAR USA and the V8 Oval series [13] of Europe, as for EuroNASCAR he placed 3rd in the championship standings of EuroNASCAR 2 [14] and 8th in the EuroNASCAR PRO Championship [15] with the help of coach and mentor 4-time European Champion of the NASCAR Euro Series Alon Day. [16]

Krasonis' 2025 No.13 model car Krasonis 2025 model car EuroNASCAR.jpg
Krasonis' 2025 No.13 model car

After a successful 2024 season, Krasonis signed with Belgian team PK Carsport for the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series to compete in both the PRO and OPEN championships. [2] Taking the wheel of the #13 Chevrolet Camaro fielded by the top team led by two-time EuroNASCAR Champion Anthony Kumpen.

Krasonis in 2025 being presented the EuroNASCAR Ambassadorship for Greece from NASCAR Euro Series CEO Jerome Galpin Krasonis NASCAR Euro Series Ambassador Greece.jpg
Krasonis in 2025 being presented the EuroNASCAR Ambassadorship for Greece from NASCAR Euro Series CEO Jerome Galpin

Krasonis announced his plans to the media in a historic event which took place in Athens, Greece at Megara Circuit, where he took the first ever ride in a EuroNASCAR car in his home country. [5] During a press conference at the first EuroNASCAR event held in Athens, he was appointed NASCAR Euro Series Ambassador for Greece, [6] on his way to bring NASCAR to Greece and leave a lasting legacy in Greek motorsport. [17]




References

  1. ↑ Maulana, Reza (2025-01-19). "Thomas Krasonis Heads to PK Carsport, Selects Lucky Number 13". World of EuroNASCAR. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  2. 1 2 Staff, Speedway Digest (2025-01-17). "Thomas Krasonis signs with PK Carsport - Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News" . Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  3. ↑ Τσάδαρης, Νίκος (2025-01-18). "Ο Θωμάς Κρασώνης είναι 23 ετών και ο πρώτος έλληνας επαγγελματίας οδηγός αγώνων". Newsbeast (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  4. 1 2 "Official website of Thomas Krasonis | If you can dream it you can do it". Thomas Krasonis. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  5. 1 2 Maulana, Reza (2025-01-23). "EuroNASCAR Completes Debut Run in Greece". World of EuroNASCAR. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  6. 1 2 Staff, Speedway Digest (2025-01-21). "NASCAR thrills Greece: A landmark debut at Megara Circuit - Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News" . Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  7. ↑ Groningen, HanzeHogeschool. "'I looked on the internet for a sport study programme and Hanze UAS popped up' | Hanze UAS". Hanze Hogeschool Groningen. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  8. ↑ Λημναίος, Γιάννης (2025-01-20). "O Θωμάς Κρασώνης στο Euro Nascar series". motorone.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  9. ↑ "Home". NASCAR Euro Series. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  10. ↑ Maulana, Reza (2023-02-17). "Thomas Krasonis Completes First US Race at New Smyrna: "It Was an Amazing Experience!"". World of EuroNASCAR. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  11. ↑ B, Dimitris (October 10, 2022). "Thomas Krasonis to race in the US and the NASCAR series from 2023". ThomasKrasonis.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ TEAM, CAR & MOTOR (2024-04-13). "Θωμάς Κρασώνης: Ένας Έλληνας στο EuroNASCAR | carandmotor.gr". carandmotor.gr | Το πρώτο premium site αυτοκινήτου (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  13. ↑ "V8 Ovalseries: EuroNascar rijders geen partij voor Barry Maessen tijdens Paasraces Raceway Venray | Autosport.nl". Autosport.nl: Hét autosport magazine van het internet (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  14. ↑ "OPEN Points Standings". NASCAR Euro Series. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  15. ↑ "PRO Points Standings". NASCAR Euro Series. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  16. ↑ Ψαρράς, Γιώργος (2025-01-21). "Θωμάς Κρασώνης: Ο Έλληνας που διαπρέπει στο EuroNascar Series – Τον συναντήσαμε στην πίστα των Μεγάρων (εικόνες)". motori.gr. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  17. ↑ Sportsdesk, B. V. M. (2025-01-21). "NASCAR Thrills Greece: Landmark Debut at Megara Circuit". BVM Sports. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
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