Enzo Pastor talks fitness, upcoming NASCAR K&N Pro-Series race

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino racing sensation Enzo Pastor, fresh from his impressive run up from the 21st position to a 4th place finish at the Euro-NASCAR series in Nogaro, France last April, is now headed to the USA to race at the K&N Pro Series East.

While Enzo may have missed out on a podium finish during that rain-drenched race, his performance caught the attention of Andy Woolgar, team manager of Creation Cope Racing who extended an invitation for him to participate in the K&N Pro Series East. A regional stock car racing series owned and run by the US arm of NASCAR, Enzo will get to take on the tracks of the Virginia International Raceway on August 24 and in Georgia during the Road Atlanta race on October 18.

According to Enzo’s father Tom, patriarch of the Philippine Formula Autosports Foundation, Inc. (PFAFI), the invitation was sent through him. Tom added that this singular honor is usually reserved for only the best racers on the Euro Racecar NASCAR circuit and Enzo is excited to show off his driving skills at the birthplace of NASCAR in the USA.

“We are seriously looking to work with experienced road course and top Asian Performing drivers,” said the invitation from Woolgar, “because we feel you (Enzo) will have an advantage, not to mention a great opportunity to showcase your talent and your sponsors.”

Car racing is more than just shifting gears and turning wheels as physical fitness is just as important. For Enzo, that means hitting the gym and doing cardio exercises.

Although Enzo shares that weight isn’t really an issue in NASCAR racing as compared to the more sensitive Formula cars, he says that in a long race, an unfit racer can easily get tired in 15 minutes from the stress and the heat.

“In France for example, normal temperature there is 12-15 degrees, but inside the cockpit it could get up to 42 degrees,” Enzo said. “It’s very hot and if you add the G-force and pressure from the other cars beside you, its’ easy to experience mental fatigue. After that, the body starts to get weak.”

This year, Enzo was able to drop 20 lbs. from his weight and he says he as 10 lbs. more to go before he feels truly fit.

Enzo’s upcoming participation in the K&N Pro Series East is no small achievement. As Woolgar explained, “There is a two-year minimum requirement of ‘actual racing’ before you can get to race on Sprint Cup level.”

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of NASCAR and is one of the most followed spectator sports in the United States. By participating in the K&N Pro Series East, Enzo will be exposed to a wider audience, particularly with an hour-long televised weekly show for his skills to be on full display.

When asked how he expects to perform in the upcoming race, Enzo says that based on what he was able to achieve in Nogaro, it definitely has to be top three this time around.

“I’d like to say a win but top three is more realistic,” Enzo said.

First NASCAR Race in Clark

Enzo’s manager, legendary Formula One visionary Ted Toleman, noted that despite racing in a rain-soaked environment in Nogaro, France this past March, Enzo was able to pass 17 cars coming from the back. This led to the invitation from Woolgar and Creation-Cope but more importantly, it helped put even more of a spotlight on the first ever Euro Racecar NASCAR race to be held in the Philippines at the Clark International Speedway in February of 2014.

“In preparation for this big and momentous event, NASCAR Touring Car CEO Jerome Galpin expects that we upgrade our racetrack facilities and safety features, which should be completed as scheduled,” notes the elder Pastor. “The owners of the Clark International Speedway are doing their best to getting ready for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) inspection.”

Further fueling Enzo’s excitement for the upcoming K&N Pro Series East races is the hope of getting the same support he’s gotten from the Euro Racecar Nascar partners such as his presenter, the Department of Tourism (DOT), co-presenter, Petron Corporation, and Resorts World Manila.