Tables turned: Ford raring for NASCAR/Supercar crossover

Global Director Ford Performance Mark Rushbrook has lauded the announcement of NASCAR Cup Series star Austin Cindric's Supercars debut in a Tickford wildcard at the bp Adelaide Grand Final in November.

Confirmed this morning, Cindric will be the first active NASCAR driver to drive in Supercars since Boris Said in 2012, and will be the first fully international wildcard entry since IndyCar stars James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi contested the 2019 Bathurst 1000.

Ford Performance have assisted in getting a Supercars star into NASCAR in recent years, with Cam Waters contesting the Cup Series race on the Sonoma road course last year, and making three Truck Series starts in the past 18 months.

Now the tables have turned, with 27-year-old Cindric set to tackle the three-race, 600km finale on the Adelaide Parklands Circuit against the regular 24-car Supercars field.

Cindric hasn't been the first NASCAR Cup Series star to be linked with an Adelaide wildcard, with planned runs for Chevrolet stars Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson both falling through in the last year.

Busch was scheduled to run in both a Triple Eight Camaro and an Image Racing Super2 Commodore in 2024 before plans fell through, whilst Larson was set to race with PremiAir Racing at the end of this year.

Now, after two missed opportunities for GM and Chevrolet, Ford have swooped in, with 2022 Daytona 500 champion Cindric a high-profile addition with a considerable road racing pedigree.

"Ford Performance is incredibly excited to see Austin Cindric head to Adelaide to compete in the Supercars finale as part of a Tickford Racing wildcard, driving the Gen3 Supercar Ford Mustang,” Rushbrook said.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent within our Ford Performance family on a global stage and see how one of NASCAR’s brightest talents fares in one of the world's most competitive touring car championships, at arguably its most intimidating street circuit.

"We are particularly eager to see how Austin measures up against the formidable Supercars drivers on their home turf. We believe this cross-pollination of talent and machinery will be thrilling for fans and a valuable experience for everyone involved.”

Tickets for the remaining events of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, including the iconic Repco Bathurst 1000 and the bp Adelaide Grand Final, are on sale now. International viewers can watch all the Supercars action via SuperView.