Supercars Star Will Brown Joins Kaulig for Chicago NASCAR Race

Supercars champion Will Brown is set to drive in the Chicago NASCAR Cup race with Kaulig Racing this July. Brown, age 26, claimed the 2024 Supercars title, earning eleven career wins and placing third at last year’s Bathurst 1000.

He will return to the NASCAR Cup Series on July 6, piloting the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro, with MobileX as the main sponsor. He previously raced in the Cup Series at Sonoma in 2024, where Brown started 24th and finished 31st for Richard Childress Racing.

Brown will join fellow Kaulig Racing drivers AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon for the Chicago street course weekend. His entry marks a continued trend of Supercars talent entering NASCAR events.

Shane van Gisbergen, now racing full-time in NASCAR, famously won his Cup debut at this same Chicago race in 2023. Brown replaced van Gisbergen at Red Bull Ampol Racing after van Gisbergen headed stateside.

The change in the Supercars calendar this year allowed Brown to fly to Charlotte early and prepare for his Cup Series start. Speaking ahead of the event, Brown shared his motivation: watching van Gisbergen’s victory in Chicago made him want to compete at the Grant Park 165.

Brown kept an eye on Kaulig Racing this year and said he is looking forward to driving the No. 13 Chevrolet for MobileX and Shaw and Partners Financial Services.

Kaulig Racing’s team owner, Matt Kaulig, described Brown’s participation as an incredible opportunity for the organization. He expressed confidence in Brown’s ability to compete for the win in such a high-profile event.

The Chicago Street Race is considered one of the premier races on the Cup Series schedule, drawing international attention after recent success by overseas drivers.

If Brown wins, he would become the first Australian-born driver to claim a Cup Series race since the 2012 season. The 3.2-mile street course in downtown Chicago offers a unique challenge, and Brown’s road racing experience in Supercars could give him an advantage.

Brown’s entry in Chicago highlights the growing connections between the Australian Supercars Championship and NASCAR. With more drivers crossing over between the two series, international talent continues to find new opportunities on America’s biggest racing stage.

The Grant Park 165 will be one of the season’s highlights, with teams and fans eager to see how Brown fares against NASCAR’s top drivers. The race offers a chance for Brown to follow in the wheel tracks of other Supercars stars who made their mark in the United States, including lessons learned from high-profile competitors like Kyle Larson.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.