Redemption, SVG win driving Brown's NASCAR comeback
Redemption, Shane van Gisbergen win driving Will Brown's NASCAR comeback
Reigning Supercars champion to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Portland
Brown was a non-finisher in previous Cup Series starts at Sonoma, Chicago
The recent disappointment of Chicago and Shane van Gisbergen’s 2024 win are steering Supercars star Will Brown’s return to NASCAR in Portland.
The reigning Repco Supercars Championship winner will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Portland International Raceway on Sunday (AEST).
Brown has two starts in the top tier NASCAR Cup Series, but neither went to plan for the Triple Eight Race Engineering star.
After impressing with Richard Childress Racing in practice at Sonoma last June, Brown’s race was curtailed by electrical issues. The Queenslander returned with Kaulig for the Chicago street race earlier this year, but was wiped out in an early race pile-up.
Brown and Supercars co-driver Jack Perkins both have redemption on their mind, with the latter also taken out in his own Chicago Xfinity cameo.
While Chicago is in the rear-view mirror, Brown highlighted the performance of old rival Shane van Gisbergen as a key inspiration to his weekend.
Last year, van Gisbergen claimed his maiden Xfinity win for Kaulig at Portland. It sent the three-time Supercars champion into the Xfinity Playoffs before he joined the Cup Series in 2025.
“I’m really excited to be racing with Kaulig Racing this weekend and coming back after what wasn’t our best weekend in Chicago,” Brown said.
“Looking forward to getting out on the track at Portland and seeing what the Xfinity car is like.
“I remember watching the race last year when the team won with Shane, which was awesome to see, so I’m thankful to everyone at Kaulig Racing for having me back.”
Brown and Perkins will be part of Group 1 in qualifying, before the 75-lap race commences at 9:30am.
Live coverage of the race in Australia is exclusive to Foxtel on Fox Sports 506 and streamed via Kayo Sports. Coverage is set to commence at 9:00am AEST on Sunday.
After the race, Brown will return to Australia for the AirTouch 500 at The Bend from September 12-14, followed by the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 9-12. Tickets are on sale now. International viewers can watch via SuperView.
