Gabriel Casagrande Accelerates in Bristol, Competes in NASCAR Race

September 15, 2026

Three-time NASCAR Brasil champion Gabriel Casagrande is stepping into a new challenge in the United States, this time in NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway, one of the most traditional ovals in North American motorsport. The driver conducted tests on Monday (14) at Caraway Speedway in North Carolina, and he admits strong expectations for the 200-lap race on Thursday (17) with MCM Racing in the ARCA Menards Series (AMS). The NASCAR ladder series has previously hosted Cup Series champions such as Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.

Casagrande will speed the No. 38 Toyota Camry with support from Aeropark Camboriú and Baterias Júpiter. The Paraná native won on his oval-track debut in the U.S. NASCAR ladder in 2025, when he competed in Pro Late Model with NEXUS Racing and Surf USA Mobile in New Smyrna, where he returned to action in February this year.

Make RallyBuzz your preferred source of Formula 1 news on Google and also on Google Discover.

Follow on Google

“I am very excited for this new challenge in the United States. It’s a great opportunity to participate in Bristol, a historic oval for NASCAR fans. I thank my sponsors for making this possible and also the work of NASCAR Brasil. We’ll try to bring more positive results home,” Casagrande said, as the leader of the national championship in 2026.

The AMS schedule foresees a free practice on Thursday, followed by qualifying and the race on the same day. The start is scheduled for 6:30 PM Brasília time. Because of commitments in the U.S., Casagrande will compete in the NASCAR Brasil schedule in Curvelo (MG) starting Saturday.

Jake Thompson

I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.