Scott McLaughlin during the 2026 Indianapolis 500. Image: Joe Skibinski
The three-time Supercars champion made the surprise move to IndyCar at the end of 2020, joining Team Penske in the single-seater series.
McLaughlin enjoyed success in his second full-time season, winning multiple races and pole positions.
Shane van Gisbergen rose to the fore in Supercars following McLaughlin’s exit, winning two titles on the bounce in 2021 and 2022.
Then the opportunity came to make a one-off start in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing and its Project91 program.
That springboarded him into a full-time drive, and several Supercars drivers have subsequently made NASCAR cameos – including Brodie Kostecki, Will Brown and Cam Waters.
The likes of Matt Payne and Broc Feeney have tried to pry the door open to NASCAR without success yet.
Speaking on Speed, McLaughlin said he would like to see Supercars drivers Stateside.
“It’s funny, man. I had dinner with Shane the week of Chicago and I said ‘You watch, you’ll probably win this weekend and you’ll be over here one day and it’ll cause this while influx’,” said McLaughlin.
“It happened. He’s done an amazing job in Cup and it’s so cool to see. I knew he’d love it here.
“I think guys in the [Supercars] championship in Australia, they see a chance to come over here and experience a form of racing where you’re racing every week and it’s all over a part of the world you’ve never been to, so it’s exciting.
“I think you’ve just got to make sure that these guys that are coming over are getting the right opportunity and not putting themselves in with the wolves, because I tell you what, the Cup Series is tough.
“As we’ve seen, Shane is a world-class driver but it’s taken time and you need to have that backing from a team like Trackhouse has been for Shane. Me with Penske in IndyCar, it was a bit of a rollercoaster ride.”
Feeney is thought to be the most likely candidate to make a start in 2027 with RFK Racing.
Waters and his Tickford Racing teammate Thomas Randle have spent time with the NASCAR Cup Series team too, thanks in part to their relationship with synonymous sponsor Castrol.
Payne also had an opportunity with Richard Childress Racing at Sonoma earlier this year, though that was thwarted by Grove Racing due to a manufacturer conflict.
“I hope to see more guys come over,” said McLaughlin.
“I think we’ve got the talent pool down there to make it happen – Feeney, Cam Waters, I think Matt Payne has been looking around, so guys that have won the big races and the championships. It would be cool to see and I’d cheer them on.
“I’m happy in IndyCar, if they might want to come to IndyCar, they can as well.”