A Supercars team boss has confirmed that he blocked one of his drivers from making their NASCAR Cup Series debut this month.
Richard Childress Racing had hoped to bring 23-year-old Grove Racing star Matt Payne over for the race at Sonoma at the end of June, but boss Stephen Grove has confirmed that he nixed the idea.
Will Buxton first broke the news on SPEED with Harvick and Buxton this week, with Grove later confirming the news in a lengthy statement – revealing that part of the reason for his refusal was the fact that RCR race in General Motors Chevrolets, while Grove is a Ford team.
The statement also cited the wrist surgery Payne underwent after a mountain biking accident last month, and questioned why GM would extend a NASCAR offer to a Ford driver when there are a number of talented Supercars drivers contracted to GM teams.
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Matt Payne blocked from NASCAR move
Buxton first reported on his show: “Aussie Supercars standout Matt Payne was set to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. Chevrolet wanted to place him with RCR in Sonoma, however, as we understand it, his Ford Grove Racing team Down Under have blocked the move.”
Grove's subsequent statement to Supercars.com read: "Grove Racing confirms that it did not approve Matt Payne’s request to participate in a NASCAR race for General Motors.
"Matt is contracted to Grove Racing until the end of the 2027 season, and during that period, he is not permitted to participate in any driving opportunity that conflicts with his contractual obligations to Grove Racing. Grove Racing takes its commercial and technical relationship with Ford Racing seriously and at no time would look to jeopardise that for a one off NASCAR drive with a competing manufacturer.
"Matt has recently returned from a significant wrist injury. Grove Racing’s priority is to ensure Matt is managed responsibly, protects his recovery, and remains fully focused on his commitments with the team. Matt is a central part of Grove Racing’s program, and we do not consider it appropriate or commercially responsible to expose him to additional physical risk in an unfamiliar racing environment, particularly one that carries no direct benefit to Grove Racing’s championship objectives."
Grove Racing 'surprised' at GM move
Grove's statement continued: "We are also surprised that General Motors would look beyond its own substantial stable of talented Supercars drivers in Australia and instead approach a contracted driver from a competing manufacturer.
"GM has access to a deep pool of capable Australian drivers with direct manufacturer alignment, and the ability to represent its program without interfering with another team’s contractual position.
"Given Matt has not previously raced in NASCAR or at the relevant circuit, it is difficult to understand why General Motors would seek to involve a contracted Grove Racing driver rather than one of its own aligned drivers."
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