PRESS RELEASE from EuroNASCAR
The American, former US NASCAR series director, will officiate full time for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
EuroNASCAR Management Group has announced that Joe Balash will join the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series full-time as Sporting and Technical Director. The 61-year-old American will provide leadership towards the goal of developing EuroNASCAR into the best racing series in Europe. Balash will not only play a key role in shaping the series as it keeps growing in competitiveness, popularity and prestige, but will also be fundamental in supporting European drivers racing in the US as well as North American drivers racing in EuroNASCAR.
“We are very fortunate to be able to add the skills and expertise of Joe Balash to EuroNASCAR”, said EuroNASCAR President – CEO Jerome Galpin. “He has a huge experience in all forms of NASCAR racing and every aspect of competition and organization and he also knows the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series very well for having worked many years with the NASCAR International group. He’s highly regarded in all paddocks both in America and Europe and we couldn’t have found a better person to join our group of executives with a strong will to take EuroNASCAR to the highest level.”
“It is an absolute honor for me to be selected to help the growth and popularity, as well as molding the vision of this series into the future. Having worked with EuroNASCAR before, I know there is an amazing amount of talent and skill not only with the teams but with the management and staff as well.” said Joe Balash.
One of the most trusted and respected personalities in American racing, Balash is also one of the few executives in the world with experience in developing all aspects of championships in two different continents. He acted for over eight years as NASCAR International Competition Liaison, supporting the growth of NASCAR in Europe, Canada and Mexico since the early stages of the sanctioning body’s international expansion, while also working at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina.
Before that, Balash served for eight years as Series Director of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and four years as Senior Vice-President of Operations at American Speed Association (ASA).
Most recently, Balash worked as Director of Racing Operations at Track Enterprises, where he contributed to the development of a National Tour for Late Model Stock Car Racing under the ASA Stars National Tour brand.
Balash will be based in EuroNASCAR’s headquarters in France and travel with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series across Europe to attend all EuroNASCAR events, starting with the season opener in Spain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo on April 12-13. EuroNASCAR will visit seven different countries and crown the European NASCAR Champion on October 12-13 at Circuit Zolder, in Belgium.
