By Neha Dwivedi, Staff Writer
Rette Jones Racing, the American stock car team competing in both the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Euro Series, is ready to return to action this weekend at NASCAR GP Germany after a short break.
The team, coming off its new strategic alliance with Highlands Motorsports in June 2025, will field entries for Rette Jones and Liam Hezemans at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben in Germany, a demanding 3.696-kilometer, 14-turn circuit.
Kickin’ the Tires will have Wolfgang “Two Questions” Monsehr at the track covering the action and giving fans technical insight.
The last outing for Rette Jones Racing was at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic and brought flashes of speed but mixed results, leaving the team eager to rebound. With four races on tap across the PRO and OPEN divisions, the team aims to find its stride again and mirror the strong pace it displayed back in April at the Euro Series opener at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
In the OPEN Division, veteran Gil Linster, a past Euro Series winner, will continue his much-anticipated return. Linster first turned heads in February 2024 with a Top 10 finish at Daytona’s ARCA Menards Series season-opener while driving for Kimmel Racing. His Euro Series campaign has been stop-and-start, with illness forcing early retirements at Autodromo di Vallelunga in May and sidelining him entirely at Brands Hatch in June. He returned to competition at Autodrom Most in late August and will now climb back into the No. 30 Ford Mustang for a second consecutive event.
Speaking ahead of the race, Linster shared his optimism.
“It means a lot to be part of the NASCAR Euro Series Playoffs, especially after the challenges earlier this year,” he said. “Being 15th in the championship right now gives us plenty of work to do, but with four races left over the next two weekends, there’s a real opportunity to climb the standings.
“Coming back in the Czech Republic was an important step for me and I’ve been working hard ever since to be fully prepared, physically and mentally, for this weekend at Oschersleben. I feel stronger than I did in my first race back and I’m excited to get back in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Euro Ford Mustang.”
Hezemans, of Amsterdam, arrives as the team’s PRO driver, with a decorated history being the 2022 EuroNASCAR 2 champion and a 10-time race winner in the series. He also carries the pedigree of being the younger brother of Loris Hezemans, a two-time EuroNASCAR champion and former NASCAR Cup Series driver with five starts in 2022. He also has several starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Oschersleben,” Hezemans said. “It’s a track where I’ve been strong in the past — we had a fourth-place finish and the fastest lap last year, and were quick the year before too. That gives me a lot of confidence heading into this weekend, with the support of Rette Jones Racing and Ford Racing.
“Reaching the Playoffs is where the real fight begins, and I’m excited to be right in the middle of it. Sitting seventh in the standings and only 51 points from the lead means everything is still on the table. With double points on the line, every lap and every decision matters even more.”
The NASCAR GP Germany has drawn 57 drivers from 20 different countries, paving the way for a competitive field. With the thinnest of margins among the championship contenders, the Playoffs are expected to open with fireworks.