Curvelo arrives as an important opportunity for Juninho Berlanda in the 2026 NASCAR Brasil Series season. After a championship below expectations, the driver from Santa Catarina sees the 75 points at stake at the Circuito dos Cristais as a chance to react before the start of the Playoffs.
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The seventh stage, scheduled for September 19 and 20, closes the regular season. In addition to the points from the qualifying session and the two races, the top 12 in the overall standings also receive a 20-point bonus for the decisive phase.
Berlanda acknowledges that the results so far have fallen short of what he expected and hopes to take advantage of the Minas Gerais round to change this scenario: “The expectation is to be able to turn the key. We haven’t had the championship we expected so far, so Curvelo is an opportunity to react, seek a more competitive weekend and get back to fighting for good results,” he says.
With many points at stake, every opportunity can make a difference in the fight for the Top 12. Therefore, Berlanda highlights the importance of having a consistent weekend to try to recover ground in the standings.
“We will definitely fight as long as there are chances. There are many points at stake, but our main focus is to have a consistent weekend, score strongly, and take advantage of all opportunities. If we achieve that, we can put ourselves back in the Top 12 fight,” he argues.
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Gabriel Casagrande leads the championship with 193 points, followed by Arthur Gama with 163, and Thiago Camilo with 161. Nicolas Costa and Vitor Genz complete the top five.
The fight for the last spots in the Playoffs also promises to be tight. Jorge Martelli is 13th with 47 points, while Gui Backes has 44 and Felipe Tozzo totals 41. The three are separated by only six points and are still seeking to enter the Top 12.
Berlanda, therefore, arrives in Curvelo needing to make the most of the 75 points available to try to change his situation in the championship. As he himself summarizes, the Minas Gerais stage can be the turning point in the season.
“Curvelo is the opportunity to turn the key. We will fight until the last point,” concludes the driver from Santa Catarina.
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