Will Brown Seeks Redemption in NASCAR Return with Chicago Cameo
Reigning Repco Supercars Champion Will Brown is set to make a return to the NASCAR Cup Series, aiming to bounce back from a frustrating debut as he prepares for the Grant Park 165 on the streets of Chicago.
The race marks NASCAR’s only street circuit event, and it will be Brown’s first time racing in Chicago. His previous Cup appearance came at Sonoma Raceway in 2024, where an impressive third-place finish in his debut practice session was undone by electrical issues that hindered his qualifying and race performance.
Brown will race with Kaulig Racing—the same team that fielded fellow Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen during his first full NASCAR season in the Xfinity Series. Van Gisbergen famously won the inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023, further fueling Brown’s interest in the event.
Reflecting on his experience at Sonoma, the Toowoomba native said that although the outcome was disappointing, it increased his determination to return.
“Last year was a bit of a letdown with the electrical issues, but it really made me want to come back more,” Brown said in an interview with American media. “Chicago is a race that a lot of drivers—especially from Australia—really want to do. We have a strong background in street circuits, and when Shane won that race, it definitely caught our attention.”
Brown was unable to compete in last year’s Chicago event due to a scheduling conflict with Supercars’ Townsville round. This year, however, the Grant Park 165 falls neatly between Supercars rounds in Darwin and Townsville, giving him a chance to showcase his skills against some of the best drivers in the world.
“I’m just excited to get out there and give it a shot,” Brown said.
