Unusual circumstances threaten Brown’s NASCAR return

This year, the Grant Park 165 is over-subscribed with 41 entries for the race confirmed by NASCAR.

With the grid capacity at 40 cars, one car will not qualify for the race at the Chicago Street Course.

On balance, the likelihood of Brown missing the race seems slim, but not impossible. He will have to get through practice unscathed and hope his #13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro is quick enough and gremlin-free.

Earlier this year, NASCAR introduced its Open Exemption Provision (OEP) for wildcard entries that, if approved, guarantees that entry a start in the race.

The provision was used earlier this year by Trackhouse Racing, who fielded Helio Castroneves in the Daytona 500.

NASCAR has confirmed no applications for the OEP have been made for the upcoming Chicago race, meaning all 41 cars will have to qualify their way into the race.

‘Open’ entries include Brown (#13 Kaulig Racing), Austin Hill (#33 Richard Childress Racing), Josh Bilicki (#66 Garage 66), Corey Heim (#67 23XI Racing), and Katherine Legge (#78 Live Fast Motorsports)

The last time NASCAR had a race outside of the Daytona 500 where a car failed to qualify due to an oversubscribed field was in 2018 at Texas Motor Speedway.

That year, Timmy Hill failed to qualify in the MBM Motorsports entry.

Brown has one NASCAR Cup Series start to his name with Richard Childress Racing at Sonoma in 2024.

He qualified 24th and was classified 31st after technical issues with his Chevrolet Camaro.

The two-day NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 begins with practice at 3am (AEST) on Sunday followed by qualifying at 4am (AEST).

Monday’s race, which takes in 75 laps begins at 4am (AEST).

Entry List: NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165

* withdrawn from the event
(i) ineligible for driver championship points

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