Defending Supercars champion Will Brown set for NASCAR Cup Series start in Chicago

Will Brown didn’t think racing in NASCAR was a possibility until he watched Shane van Gisbergen win in Chicago, but now he has locked in another start in the US in the series’ biggest street race.

Defending champion Will Brown remains focused on his unfinished business in Supercars over the lure of a full-time racing career in the United States as he prepares for another NASCAR Cup Series start on the streets of Chicago in July.

After making his NASCAR debut in California last year, the Triple Eight star has locked in a second Cup Series berth in the Chicago street race, this time for Kaulig Racing.

Brown made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway last June when he drove a third entry for Richard Childress Racing.

Spurred on by three-time Supercars and Bathurst 1000 champion Shane van Gisbergen’s heroics in Chicago two years ago, Brown had been eager to chase a shot at the biggest street race in NASCAR.

Van Gisbergen, now racing full-time in the United States, stunned the motorsport world when he won the inaugural Chicago street race in his first NASCAR start.

“It was exciting getting to do Sonoma last year, but didn’t quite go the way that we wanted so I really wanted to try to put together a deal this year to come back and have another shot at it and there was no better place than Chicago,” Brown said.

Defending Supercars champion Will Brown will race for Kaulig Racing in the Chicago street race in the NASCAR Cup Series in July. Picture: Supplied.

“After watching Shane win there two years ago, I think a few of us, especially myself, have wanted to go over there and race over there.

“I didn’t think NASCAR was an opportunity before Shane went over there and won that race.

“To now be lining up for my second race is pretty amazing, I never thought I would ever get a shot at doing a NASCAR race, let alone two and Chicago.

“So to get a second shot it is very exciting, a little bit surreal as well. It wouldn’t be possible to go over to NASCAR without my partners in Shaw and Partners and MobileX making it all possible.”

Brown will drive Kaulig Racing’s No. 13 Chevrolet, joining teammates AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon in the July 6 race.

The 26-year-old will head to the US after the Supercars round at Hidden Valley in Darwin to spend two weeks preparing with the team on the sim before the Chicago race.

Defending Supercars champion Will Brown will have a shot at a second NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago in July. Picture: Mark Horsburgh

Asked if he coveted a full-time career in the US, Brown said his priority was on Supercars and adding to his 2024 crown.

“Right now, to be honest, it is probably not something I’m looking towards,” Brown said.

“For me, it’s scratching an itch to go over there, get to race against some of the best and if I could do that two or three times a year, I would be really happy with that.

“You don’t know which way you’d go if the opportunity came up, but I’m very happy with where I am at Supercars to be with Red Bull now and Triple Eight. It would be very hard to leave that seat, that’s for sure. It’s not something I’m looking at.

“For Shane it was a bit later in his career, for me being 26 years old, if it was something I would like (to do), it would be further down in my career.”

Brown was third in the opening practice at Sonoma last year, but he was hampered by an electrical issue in qualifying and during the race, finishing 31st.

But he felt his street racing background in Supercars would boost his Chicago assault.

“That’s what we do, we do street circuits, it’s a perfect race for us to enter,” Brown said.

Will Brown won his first Supercars championship last year for Triple Eight. Picture: Mark Horsburgh / EDGE Photographics

“It’s quite similar to our racing. They have opened up our rules that we can run into each other a bit more and get argy-bargy and I think that is exactly how they race over there.

“I’m well prepared for that.”

Brown currently sits second in the Supercars championship standings behind his teammate Broc Feeney, who jumped to the lead at the last round in Tasmania.

“I feel like I have had a little bit of a lull, I’ve got to bounce back at Perth. I felt like I had speed at Tassie, but it just didn’t all come together,” Brown said.

“I had a really good qualifying and top 10 shootout on Sunday, but it just wasn’t the results we wanted. So we would love to bounce back at Perth and really show why we won a championship last year and get back on top.

“But Broc’s doing a great job so hopefully we can put the fight to him.”

ENDS

Originally published as Defending Supercars champion Will Brown set for NASCAR Cup Series start in Chicago