The NASCAR Brasil Series 2026 pre-season took place this Sunday (22), with Vitor Genz (Ford #46, Full Time) standing out as the winner of the Duel, disputed this weekend at the Panamericano Pirelli Circuit, in Elias Fausto (SP). Alongside Murilo Rocha (Ford #55, Full Time), he led the confrontation that marked the first direct dispute between drivers using the new RiSE26.
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“We started off on the right foot with the new car,” celebrated Genz, who is making his debut with Full Time this season. “We worked very well. It was my first event with the team and we got along great. We started with an extra push to use it racing at home,” added the driver, recalling that the triumph also guaranteed an extra NASCAR Boost activation for the opening stage in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS).
“We managed to secure these two pushes for the team. I think we have an advantage in Santa Cruz, but that doesn’t say much yet. We have to work hard, but it’s good to start like this. I had a very good experience, the car is fast, turns well, brakes well and is nice to drive,” evaluated Murilo Rocha. At 16 years old, the rookie is the youngest on the grid and is now beginning his journey in touring cars.
The event format followed the proposal of The Clash — the traditional exhibition race of the NASCAR Cup Series, which opens the calendar without awarding points. Adapted to Brazilian reality, The Duel functioned as a special pre-season dispute, reinforcing the category’s identity and bringing it closer to one of NASCAR’s most well-known models.
The schedule was divided into two days and included seven training sessions. On Saturday, the teams concentrated efforts on adapting to the car and making initial adjustments. On Sunday, the format changed to elimination confrontations, with two-lap duels per car. In the first phase, the matches were: Vitor Genz (#46, Full Time) against Dudes Castroneves (#34, Pole Motorsport), Alfredinho Ibiapina (#8, Full Time) against Arthur Gama (#9, Cavaleiro Sports), Ricardo Maurício (#7, Pole Motorsport) against Denis Navarro (#5, Cavaleiro Sports) and Murilo Rocha (#55, Full Time) against Tito Giaffone (#15, Full Time).
The semifinals had Genz facing Alfredinho Ibiapina and Murilo Rocha measuring forces with Ricardo Maurício. In the final, Genz defeated Rocha and took the victory.
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By bringing The Clash concept to Brazil, NASCAR created a competitive environment already at the first commitment of the year. With Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang in action, the event served as a reference to understand the behavior of the RiSE26 both in controlled laps and in direct disputes.
Joselmo Barcik, head of Pole Motorsport, highlighted: “This test and the training sessions were a learning experience for both the drivers and the team. It’s a new car, always a new project that brings innovations and items for which we were not yet prepared. With the team entering the category now and getting to know the cars in a more direct way on the track, it was fundamental for us. It was very productive and rich for us to prepare for the first stage.”
Maurício Ferreira, head of Full Time Sports, evaluated: “It was very cool, because we had two drivers who were already with the team last year, Alfredinho Ibiapina and Tito Giaffone, plus the rookies Vitor Genz, with all his experience and already a champion of the category, and Murilo Rocha, with only 16 years old. Having them with us helped a lot; we were exchanging information and evolving with each outing on the track.”
With no points at stake, the initiative had as its main focus putting the RiSE26 in real track conditions and anticipating the work of the teams before the first stage of the championship, scheduled for April 11 and 12 in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS).
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