Nothing could stop Ander Vilarino (#2 TFT-Banco Santander Chevrolet SS) from winning the ELITE 1 Race 2 at Valencia. The Spaniard started from the pole and led flag to flag to score his first win of the season, the 18th of his NASCAR career and the fourth on the Spanish track.
“I am very proud to leave Valencia as the championship leader because there are many really strong drivers competing for the win in each race,” said the driver of the #2 TFT-Banco Santander Chevrolet SS. “A lot of people came today to see me in my home race and it feels amazing to win in front of them.”
Vilarino jumped to an early lead immediately after the start, building a comfortable margin over Frederic Gabillon (#3 RDV Competition Chevrolet SS) and Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) but a safety car brought out to recover Roberto Benedetti’s car (#9 Double T by DAV Racing Chevrolet SS) from the gravel at turn 12 compacted the field again and led to a restart on lap 6. Vilarino kept the first position ahead of Gabillon and Kumpen, dictating the pace while the Frenchman and the defending champion battled for second.
Some contacts shuffled the field in restart, with Nicolò Rocca (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) and Borja Garcia (#1 Active Racing Competition Ford Mustang) losing various positions, while Romain Iannetta (#7 TFT Chevrolet SS) climbed up to fourth, followed by yesterday’s winner Eddie Cheever III (#51 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS).
