Not content to let Trackhouse Racing take the glory of bringing outstanding drivers from outside the United States to compete in NASCAR’s Cup Series, Richard Childress and his eponymous team have selected Brodie Kostecki to race in the Verizon 200 on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course August 13th.
Currently sitting second in the Australian Supercars’ driver’s standings to Erebus Motorsport teammate Will Brown, whom he lags by a scant seven points, Kostecki will drive the No. 33 MobileX Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the race as teammate to Richard Childress Racing stars 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champ Kyle Busch and 2018 Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon.
The recruitment of Kostecki has been in the works for at least four months, resulting in an agreement between the driver’s manager, Nathan Cayzer and Childress. “I am thrilled to be making my NASCAR Cup debut at the Brickyard,” Kostecki said. “It’s an honor to compete at such an iconic venue and against some of the biggest names in motorsport. I’m incredibly grateful to RCR for giving me this opportunity and I’m determined to make the most of it.”
Kostecki is no stranger to NASCAR and American motorsport. He competed in the K&N Pro Series in 2013 and 2014, scoring two poles, setting a single track record and one top-five result in 14 contests. With personal connections that run deep from those decade-past K&N Pro Series days, “Racing is at the core of everything I do, and NASCAR has been a lifelong goal of mine, after spending years growing up in the sports heartland of North Carolina,” Kostecki revealed.
“It’s a whole different world over there and any additional time I can spend racing is only going to help me try and win my first Supercars Championship. We got some great exposure to the inner sanctum of the team during our recent trip,” to consummate this deal, “and I cannot wait to immerse myself in the team, this time as a Cup Series driver.”
Kostecki’s Superstars team, Erebus Motorsports and its CEO Barry Ryan stated that the driver’s NASCAR Cup Series debut comes with his organization’s blessing. “We encourage him to race as much as he can and we’ve always encouraged Brodie’s pursuit of more racing opportunities. Providing him with the chance to explore and excel in various racing disciples not only enhances his skills,” Ryan said, “but also contributes to the overall growth and success of our team.”
Before he becomes the second Australian Supercars Championship driver this year to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut, following three-time series champ Shane van Gisbergen’s Chicago road race victory, with Trackhouse Racing’s No. 91 Camaro ZL1 Kostecki will compete in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship Round 7, the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight July 28-31 at Sydney Motorsports Park.
By Anne Proffit
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