Jack Perkins was stripped of a podium finish and Will Brown’s NASCAR debut ended prematurely due to mechanical issues during the Supercars Championship’s recent foray into american motorsport at the Chicago street circuit. The incidents unfolded during the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural Chicago Street Race weekend, where Supercars drivers were invited to compete in a support race.
The setbacks impact both drivers’ championship standings as the Repco supercars Championship season progresses. Perkins, initially finishing third in the NASCAR-sanctioned race, was relegated to 12th after a post-race inspection revealed a technical infringement. Brown, meanwhile, was sidelined early in the race with a power steering failure, preventing him from demonstrating his potential in the American series.
Perkins’ Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustang was found to have a fuel cell issue, leading to the disqualification.”We’re obviously incredibly disappointed with the result,” team principal Bruce Stewart said, according to Speedcafe.”We had a really strong day and Jack drove exceptionally well. Unfortunatly, we had a technical issue with the fuel cell that didn’t meet the regulations.”
Brown’s debut with Richard Childress Racing was cut short on lap 22 due to a power steering pump failure. “Just really unfortunate,” Brown stated to Fox Sports. “I was having a lot of fun, learning a lot, and then the power steering just went completely. It’s a shame, but that’s racing.”
The Chicago event marked a unique crossover between the two popular racing series, offering Supercars drivers a chance to experience NASCAR competition and expose the Australian championship to a new audience. The supercars Championship now returns to Australia for the next round at Townsville.