Richard Childress’ aspiration of fielding four Cup Series cars in the future has taken a hit. Last year, defending Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki made his NASCAR debut at the Indianapolis road course with RCR. Owing to the technical alliance between RCR and Kostecki’s Supercars employers, Erebus Motorsport, the No.99 Chevrolet driver had found a smooth passage to American racing. However, if the recently surfaced reports are anything to go by, the 26-year-old has taken a shocking U-turn and departed Erebus Motorsport.

Kostecki only had a year left in his contract, making Richard Childress believe he could open a gateway for the 2023 champion’s entry to NASCAR as a full-time driver. Erebus Motorsport will have to enter the 2024 season with two new following Will Brown’s switch to Triple Eight Racing last year.

Is this the end of the Richard Childress Racing- Erebus Motorsport partnership?

Kostecki was easily the most significant prospect that Erebus Motorsport had to offer. With the technical alliance serving as a bridge, Richard Childress used it to give the defending champion a taste of racing in NASCAR. But shockingly, only some things were going well between Kostecki and his team. As per recent reports, the driver had a significant disagreement with the team in August 2023. Even more surprisingly, Kostecki produced his best performance of the season in the Tailem Bend round in the same week.

Kostecki’s discontent with Erebus’ plans could deter Richard Childress from continuing the alliance. Considering the difference and the distance between the two racing disciplines, a considerable amount of finances is required to maintain the bond. With Brodie Kostecki opting to sit out for the 2024 season, RCR might have a big reason to sever ties with the Australian team. Another driver that could be affected by this news is Kyle Busch.

Richard Childress and Kyle Busch have showcased a healthy dynamic since last season. Owing to the same, RCR wanted to provide Busch with an opportunity to field him as a wildcard entry in the 2024 Adelaide 500. But Kostecki’s surprise departure turns the situation upside down. Typically, one would expect everything to go as planned, with Kostecki not being released to join another team and opting out of the 2024 season.

Richard Childress attended the Supercars season finale in November to support Erebus and Brodie Kostecki. With such strong ties in place, it’d make sense for RCR to recruit Kostecki as a full-time driver in the upcoming season, albeit through a different passage than Erebus Motorsport.

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Kostecki’s departure could mean no NASCAR action for Erebus Motorsport

Previously, Richard Childress has expressed his interest in adding Brodie Kostecki to the Cup Series team. After his debut last year, Erebus and RCR agreed to allow Kostecki to run in five Cup Series races in 2024. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Erebus Motorsport had pondered a possible extension to racing in NASCAR. With the team sending its engineers and crew members to Kostecki’s NASCAR debut, it’d have hoped for a better end to the partnership.

If Erebus Motorsport releases Brodie Kostecki from the ongoing contract, which ends in 2025, it could be a fruitful result for him. Kostecki was supported by Australian business tycoon Peter Adderton and his brand MobileX in Indianapolis. MobileX has grown in stature and tied itself to Walmart as well. With Kostecki sharing a good rapport with Adderton and Co, a full-time move to NASCAR is definitely on the cards.

Erebus Motorsports, who’d hoped for some help from their technical alliance, is currently in a dire situation. Replacing Kostecki will be a major task on the list. The leading contender to do so is 2017 Super2 champion Todd Hazelwood. With Jack Le Brocq new to the team, Erebus has to stabilize its young and unfamiliar core. The team has also made some changes to its hierarchy, with crew chief Brad Tremain upgrading to the role of the Team Principal.

Looking at the situation, Brodie Kostecki’s move to NASCAR is the most likely outcome. If not Richard Childress Racing, other teams are on the lookout to bring Australian racing’s defending champion to America. Well, talent does find a way to shine.

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