The 18th NASCAR Brasil Series arrives in Curvelo (MG) this weekend, from September 18 to 20, for an important stage in the 2026 calendar. The Circuito dos Cristais hosts the round that will define the 12 drivers qualified for the Playoffs. The stage puts 75 points at stake. There are 25 in qualifying and another 25 in each of the two races. In addition, those who finish the regular season within the Top-12 secure 20 more points to carry into the decisive phase.
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Gabriel Casagrande arrives at the final round in the lead, with 193 points after applying the two discards provided for in the championship. Arthur Gama is second, with 163, while Thiago Camilo has 161. Nicolas Costa and Vitor Genz complete the top five.
Further back, the fight for the last spots promises to be tight. Jorge Martelli is 13th, with 47 points, followed by Gui Backes, with 44, and Felipe Tozzo, with 41. Only six points separate the three drivers still trying to enter the group of qualifiers.
The difference is also small within the Top 12. Denis Navarro occupies 11th place, with 54 points, the same number as Ricardo Maurício, who is 12th. With 75 points available, the standings may undergo significant changes throughout the weekend.
The fact that Curvelo is an oval circuit also makes qualifying one of the most important points of the stage. The session is worth 25 points and can define much of the scenario for the two races, especially on a track where overtaking is considered difficult.
Nicolas Costa, fourth in the championship, arrives at the round aiming to enter the top three before the start of the Playoffs: “My expectation is to be competitive and fight to be among the top three entering the Playoffs. I believe it will be a race largely defined by qualifying, so having a fast car will be essential to start well.”
Alfredinho Ibiapina, from Full Time, follows the same line and highlights the importance of getting a good qualifying result: “The expectation is to do a good qualy. The track is extremely difficult to overtake, so qualifying will be very important for the weekend points.”
In seventh place, with 73 points, Murillo Rocha arrives in Curvelo having a standout season. The Full Time driver is the youngest on the grid and is in his debut year in the category. “Sharing the track with these guys was already a dream. Being 7th exceeds any expectation. Now it’s time to close Curvelo with a golden key!”
Tatiana Calderón also arrives motivated for the Minas Gerais stage. After the good pace shown in Londrina, the SG28 by Pole Motorsport driver returns to an oval with banking and aims for a podium finish. “I’m very happy to return to an oval, and the expectation of racing on a banked oval in this car is great. I think we had a great pace and a great race in Londrina, so I’m hopeful and aiming to be on the podium!”
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Bruna Tomaselli, Calderón’s teammate, also bets on the performance shown on ovals throughout the year to seek an important score in Curvelo. “The expectation is good. We had a good performance on ovals this year and we will try to repeat it in Curvelo. The focus, without a doubt, is to score as many points as possible to enter the Playoffs.”
Witold Ramasauskas, from Team RC, returns to the circuit where he already achieved a podium in the first race in the category’s history at the location. Last year, however, the driver was involved in an accident: “The expectation for Curvelo is good. We already had a podium there in the first race in history. Last year was not so good for us, we were involved in an accident, but it’s always a very tight race, where everyone runs very close and it’s decided by details. So it’s always guaranteed excitement.”
Tito Giaffone, from Full Time, faces a different stage from the others precisely because it is the only oval race on the calendar. The driver recalls that, despite having posted good times in Curvelo last year, he finished the round with a result below expectations after some bad luck.
“I’m very happy to be able to race at this racetrack again. Being the only oval circuit we have on the calendar, it’s always a very different stage, with different strategies, setups, and dynamics, making everything very special. Last year, despite having good times, with some bad luck my final result was not the best, but we will come back with more experience and more will to do everything to make it work.”
Besides the fight for a spot in the Playoffs, Giaffone is also competing for the Challenge championship.
“Of course the focus will always be to enter the Playoffs, but we are also strongly competing for the Challenge championship. So, since we are coming from two not-so-positive stages, we will try to redeem ourselves in Curvelo.”
After the Minas Gerais stage, the NASCAR Brasil Series enters the Playoffs. The decisive phase will consist of six races, three in Chapecó (SC) and three in Brasília (DF), which will determine the 2026 champion.
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