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 reigning OPEN European Champion in the NASCAR Euro Series, having won the 2025 title.[3] He is the first Greek professional racing driver.[4][5] He is also the NASCAR Euro Series Ambassador for Greece.[6][7]
Thomas Krasonis was born on 29 October 2001 in Athens, Greece, where he grew up and started racing, making the most out of all early opportunities in a country where racing infrastructure is limited. From a young age, he showed an affinity for speed, beginning his karting career at just five years old in 2006.[8] Growing up in Athens, Krasonis balanced his racing ambitions with everyday life, competing in local events that fostered his competitive spirit. His education took a practical turn during a career hiatus[9], in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he had enrolled at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, Netherlands, where he studied Sport Science & Management.[10] This period away from the track allowed him to gain insights into sports administration and athlete development, which he later credited with enhancing his professional approach to racing. Krasonis's early life reflects the challenges faced by aspiring drivers from non-traditional motorsport nations, who rely on determination and international exposure to progress in their careers.
Junior racing career
Krasonis at the 2015 Winterpokal Kerpen ADAC German Championship
Krasonis's junior racing years built steadily on his karting foundations, transitioning from national to international competitions and setting the stage for his stock car breakthrough.
From 2009 to 2011, he raced in the Greek National Karting Championship, where he developed core skills in wheel-to-wheel combat and track race-craft. Seeking broader challenges, he ventured abroad, competing in the World Karting Series from 2011 to 2012, followed by the Rhein-Main Germany Kart Cup in 2013–2014. His karting career culminated in the 2015 Winterpokal Kerpen ADAC German Championship, a prestigious event that exposed him to top European talent and refined his driving skill and technique before moving to cars.[8]
In 2016, Krasonis debuted in Car racing with the Junior Saloon Car Championship in the UK, a series focused on affordable, production-based cars that emphasised driver equality and skill. He continued in the championship through 2017, gaining experience in longer races and adapting to the physical demands of car handling. Advancing his progression, Krasonis entered the 2018 Mini Challenge Italy, piloting Mini John Cooper Works cars in a competitive single-make environment. Finishing strongly in the standings, this phase honed his versatility across road courses and prepared him for the high-speed, contact-heavy world of NASCAR-style racing. Overall, his junior racing career was marked by consistent upward mobility, as he prepared to make the switch in 2019 to V8-powered stock cars of the official NASCAR racing competition of Europe, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.[8]
NASCAR career
Krasonis took his maiden race victory at the 2025 EuroNASCAR race weekend in Valencia, Spain
Krasonis transitioned to the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in 2019, a move that positioned him as a pioneering figure in Greek motorsport. His tenure in the series has been characterised by rapid adaptation, mentorship from champions and a fusion of European and American racing styles.
Krasonis made his NASCAR Euro Series debut in 2019[5], entering the competitive V8 stock car arena and quickly adjusting to its unique mix of oval and road courses. In 2020, Krasonis did not race[9] due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning in 2021 with Academy Motorsport, he competed primarily in the Elite 2 category, emphasising consistency and learning the intricacies of NASCAR regulations and team dynamics. These early years were formative, building resilience amid limited resources.
By 2022, Krasonis had advanced to the premier EuroNASCAR PRO Championship, where he raced for that season. In 2023, he expanded to the United States, racing a late model at New Smyrna Speedway during Speedweeks to familiarise himself with American ovals. [11]Although planned entries in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Truck Series fell through, this stint provided valuable transatlantic experience.[12] Back in Europe, he drove for racing team Marko Stipp Motorsport.[13]
The 2024 season featured further U.S. outings in the World Series of Asphalt and European commitments in the V8 Oval Series, complemented by dual EuroNASCAR classes. Under the guidance of coach and mentor four-time European Champion Alon Day[14], Krasonis refined his racecraft, setting the foundation for his breakout year.
Signing with racing team PK Carsport for 2025, Krasonis piloted the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro in both the PRO and OPEN divisions, for the team led by two-time European Champion Anthony Kumpen.[2] Krasonis unveiled his plans at Megara Circuit in Athens, while also becoming the first to demonstrate a EuroNASCAR car in Greece and earning the role of series Ambassador.[7]
The season opened strongly with a double victory at Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo on 12–13 April, including his first PRO win from pole. Accumulating a total of seven wins over the season, 12 podiums, and a lap record at Brands Hatch, Krasonis dominated in the OPEN standings. On 12 October at Circuit Zolder, Belgium, he clinched the OPEN Championship[15], becoming the first Greek driver to claim a major European motorsport title. Krasonis became the first Greek driver to win a NASCAR Euro Series Championship[16], by winning the OPEN Division title. A maiden OPEN Division victory at Valencia, Spain was followed by five additional wins over the course of the season, completing his 2025 season campaign to clinch the championship.
EuroNASCAR brand ambassadorship
Krasonis in 2025 being presented the EuroNASCAR Ambassadorship for Greece from NASCAR Euro Series CEO Jerome Galpin
In January 2025, Krasonis was officially appointed as the EuroNASCAR Brand Ambassador for Greece by series CEO Jerome Galpin during a high-profile launch event at the Megara Circuit near Athens.[6] The ceremony marked the first time a EuroNASCAR-spec V8 stock car was demonstrated on Greek soil, with Krasonis performing exhibition runs in front of local media and fans.[7] The appointment recognised not only his on-track success but also his potential to grow the sport in a country with no prior history in NASCAR-sanctioned competition.
As ambassador, Krasonis has taken an active role in promoting the NASCAR Euro Series within Greece and around Europe. His responsibilities include taking part in events and representing the series at national motorsport functions. Following his 2025 OPEN Championship victory, he collaborated with Greek television networks to broadcast highlights of the Zolder title-clinching weekend, during which the Greek national anthem was played on a major European motorsport podium.[17][18] The ambassadorship has significantly raised the profile of stock car racing in Greece and is credited with increasing interest among people in the country.
Post-2025 season
On 31 October 2025, shortly after clinching the 2025 OPEN European Championship, Krasonis signed a contract extension with PK Carsport to compete full-time in the NASCAR Euro Series for the 2026 season. [19] For 2026, he will focus exclusively on the top-tier EuroNASCAR PRO division, forgoing further participation in the OPEN category in order to challenge for the overall European NASCAR title.
On 21 November 2025, Krasonis travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend the annual NASCAR Awards ceremony for the first time in his career.[20] He was officially honoured alongside the other 2025 international NASCAR champions and inducted into the Whelen Hall of Champions at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. These developments marked the conclusion of Krasonis’s championship year and confirmed his status as a full-time contender in the premier EuroNASCAR PRO category heading into 2026.
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