The NASCAR Brasil Series held the second stage of the 2026 season last weekend in Cascavel (PR). And it was one of those stages that leave a mark: unprecedented victories, new stories, and the feeling that the championship is gaining more and more strength within the national scene.
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The season started with a different proposal. With the arrival of RiSE26, the category showed that it is paying more attention to the experience of drivers, teams, and also the public. This was already clear from the opening, with new entries on the grid and a new qualifying format, which started to include a sprint race to define the starting order of the top six.
In Cascavel, however, the script needed adjustments. Rain appeared throughout the weekend and ended up taking the sprint off the scene, prioritizing the smooth running of activities. Qualifying came in a more direct format: 30 minutes of session and only five laps per car, enough to increase unpredictability even more.
And it was in this scenario that Denis Navarro appeared well, securing his first pole in the category and starting what would be a true weekend of debuts.
On Saturday, the sunset race delivered one of the coolest moments of the stage. The Zilmar Beux Autodrome served as the setting for a race with a special atmosphere at sunset, while on the track Gabriel Casagrande took care of things early: he took the lead right at the start and controlled well until the victory. In the Challenge, Juninho Berlanda also took advantage of the moment and achieved his first win.
But Sunday still held the main chapters. With the grid inversion, Nicolas Costa knew how to play the scenario. In a busy race, with several safety car entries, he managed the pressure well and left with his first victory in the NASCAR Brasil Series, celebrated emotionally in front of the crowd.
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Besides Nicolas, Sunday brought a historic moment. The Santa Catarina native Bruna Tomaselli achieved the first female victory in the NASCAR Brasil Series in the Challenge class. In a well-made decision, NASCAR Brasil welcomed Bruna and the Colombian Tatiana Calderón, in the SG28 team, to compete in the championship. Both have already competed at the world level and, with that, came the first great result.
It is still early for any more direct prediction about the season, but what Cascavel leaves is a positive sign. RiSE26 is starting to appear in practice, the races have been lively, and the variety of winners helps keep the championship open and interesting.
For those who follow national motorsport, the NASCAR Brasil Series is establishing itself as an increasingly relevant space. Established names like Ricardo Maurício, Galid Osman, Gabriel Casagrande, and Berlanda himself continue to find good stories within the category, while drivers like Murilo Rocha, Alfredinho Ibiapina, and Dudes Castroneves gain space and visibility in a competitive grid.
This balance, combined with the strategy of valuing the grid, is already reflected in the growth of the championship. The next stage, at the Interlagos Autodrome, should continue this momentum, with a category that, even in a short period, shows the capacity to evolve without losing its essence: competitiveness on the track.
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