NASCAR heavyweights to run Kostecki cameo

For a second time in 2023, a Supercars driver will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut with a front-running team.

Brodie Kostecki’s Cup Series debut with Richard Childress Racing was confirmed on Tuesday.

Erebus Motorsport driver Kostecki will race a MobileX-backed #33 Camaro at the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, at the Indianapolis Road Course on August 13.

The Perth-born driver's debut comes a week before the OTR SuperSprint, with Kostecki to race alongside RCR regulars Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon.

Kostecki will return to his NASCAR roots, having completed a stint in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2013 and 2014.

In 14 races, Kostecki claimed two poles, one track record and one top five finish.

Earlier this month, Shane van Gisbergen debuted for Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 program at the inaugural Chicago street race.

Busch has already won three races in 2023

Trackhouse, owned by racer Justin Marks, has quickly become a Cup Series frontrunner since its debut in 2020.

Last year, Ross Chastain made the Championship 4 and has already won this season.

When it comes to racing pedigree and results, few teams in the Cup Series come close to RCR, owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame Richard Childress.

Childress himself was a racer, making 285 Cup Series starts between 1969 and 1981, with his team launched in 1969.

Notably, Childress enjoyed a successful relationship with the late Dale Earnhardt, with the latter winning six of his seven Cup titles with RCR.

Earnhardt also scored his first Daytona 500 victory with the team in 1998.

Childress was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017, a year after he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall fo Fame in America.

The #33 Kostecki Camaro

RCR won the Daytona 500 again with Kevin Harvick in 2007, and Austin Dillon — Childress’ grandson — in 2018.

In 2023, Dillon was joined by two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who arrived from Joe Gibbs Racing.

Busch has already won three races in 2023 — at Auto Club Speedway, Talladega Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway.

Kostecki was trackside with RCR along with Erebus teammate Will Brown and team members when Busch won at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The Erebus/RCR relationship was forged via Image Racing's Terry Wyhoon, with Super2 team Image an affiliate of Erebus.

RCR itself recently acquired an ex-Erebus VF Commodore, with Busch turning laps in the car.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight on July 28-30. Tickets are on sale now.