Anthony Kumpen Joins Precision Performance Motorsports at Phoenix and Homestead

2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion Anthony Kumpen will make his first of two starts with Precision Performance Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, November 13th driving the No. 55 Nexteer Automotive Chevrolet Camaro. 36-year-old Kumpen, a native of Hasselt, Belgium will make just his second NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) start, the first coming at Iowa Speedway in August of 2015 with Rick Ware Racing.
Kumpen’s two XFINITY Series’ starts will continue the Nexteer Road to Daytona program - the path designed by Nexteer and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to bring European drivers to race in NASCAR in the United States. The Nexteer Road to Daytona program will culminate with the NXS event at Daytona International Speedway in February of 2016. LeasePlan, EL Systems, Keupers Tankstations, and Heinz Performance will also partner with Kumpen and Nexteer for these events.
Kumpen is fresh off the heels of his second season of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series competition that proved noteworthy. 2014 highlights included one win, overall driver points’ championship, and team points’ championship. Kumpen made his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut in their 2015 season opener at New Smyrna Speedway and went on to compete again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
“I'm looking forward to racing for Precision Performance Motorsports at Phoenix and Homestead," said Kumpen, “I would like to thank NASCAR, Team FJ and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for giving me this opportunity. It has been a great season in which I learned a lot from my oval races in the US. It's a fantastic experience as a European driver to be part of NASCAR. My goal is to finish both races and get as many laps as possible. I hope we can extend the Nexteer program to Daytona with more NXS races. It would be great to do some more races in the US next year with some road courses in our program. I think my extensive road course experience could help me in achieving some good results."
Crew chief Mark Setzer will lead Kumpen’s XFINITY Series effort. Setzer has led the No. 55 team from the pit box for two seasons.
“We are excited to have Anthony Kumpen join our team as we partner with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to continue the Nexteer Road to Daytona program," said Precision Performance Motorsports owner Rick Gdovic. “Anthony is an outstanding ambassador for NASCAR and the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series to the United States. We look forward to progressing his development in the XFINITY Series in preparation for Daytona in 2016 and continuing to promote the Euro Series in the Unites States."
A veteran of the American Le Mans Series, Kumpen has starts in the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, FIA GT, and Belcar Endurance Championship. Kumpen has won multiple championships across Europe, as well as a record six victories in the 24 Hours of Zolder.