Supercars champ Will Brown reflects on tough result at NASCAR Chicago Street Race: 'Gutted'

A big trip from Australia to the United States proved to be for nothing for Supercars star Will Brown and his Kaulig Racing team. Brown came over to compete in the Chicago Street Race for the first time in his career. He did not have the same experience as his NASCAR counterpart, Shane van Gisbergen.

Will Brown is a talented racer. He is the defending champion in Supercars, has 11 career wins, and 37 podiums. Brown has only raced full-time in Supercars since 2021. When SVG came to America to race NASCAR, Brown took over his seat at Triple Eight.

Unfortunately, Brown was out of the race before it really started. Just a few laps into the Chicago Street Race, Brown found himself involved in the Carson Hocevar pileup in Turns 10 and 11.

In his second Cup Series start, Will Brown took home a P39 DNF. Not what he had in mind when he put together this opportunity.

“Gutted, but if you don’t try you don’t know! Tough end to our time here in [America] after getting caught in someone else’s crash,” Brown posted on social media. “Thank you to all my sponsors, especially to [Shaw Partners] [Mobile X US] and my supporters for the support. Onto Townsville.”

Gutted, but if you don’t try you don’t know! Tough end to our time here in 🇺🇸 after getting caught in someone else’s crash. Thank you to all my sponsors, especially to @Shaw_Partners @mobileXus us and my supporters for the support. Onto Townsville. pic.twitter.com/NeVBZKbFXd

— Will Brown (@will_brown87) July 6, 2025

The Chicago Street Race has had a history of wild moments. In the first edition of this race, there was a massive pileup on a wet track. It was so bad that drivers moved their cars to block the track so the wrecked cars would stop losing spots on track.

This year, a very similar moment happened. That’s where things went south for Will Brown. Carson Hocevar spun out after hitting the wall exiting Turn 10. Then, cars came piling in. It was a mess.

Will Brown shows how great Shane van Gisbergen is

With every Supercars driver that comes to America to try out NASCAR after Shane van Gisbergen, it further proves how impressive his Chicago win in 2023 was, and how impressive it is that he has two wins this season.

Will Brown wasn’t the only driver from Supercars in the NASCAR weekend festivities. Jack Perkins raced for JGR in the Xfinity Series race, in what was a P32 finish after suffering damage. Last year, Cam Waters made a start at Sonoma in the Cup Series. None of them have been able to crack even the top-20 in a NASCAR race.

Shane van Gisbergen came to the United States in 2023 and shocked the racing world. NASCAR drivers are no slouches on road courses. There are a number of very talented drivers who can go left and right in today’s sport. Still, SVG is another step above the rest.