Cam Waters has emphasized the potential for the NASCAR Truck Series Australia expansion, highlighting the category’s affordability and appeal for local drivers. After competing on the Lime Rock road course in the United States on June 28, Waters sees strong prospects for introducing the series to Australia’s motorsport fans and competitors.
The Truck Series, established in 1995, features highly specialized steel tube-frame chassis equipped with Ilmor’s 5.8-litre V8 engines and four-speed gearboxes. The trucks resemble popular models such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and starting 2026, the Ram 1500, a lineup that has seen growing interest in Australia due to left-to-right hand drive adaptations.
Why the Truck Series Appeals as a Cost-Effective Racing Option
Waters is attracted to the cost-effectiveness of the Truck Series, which he believes makes it a viable path for Australian drivers aiming to compete internationally. His recent experience racing the trucks stateside further convinced him of their value.
“It would be sick to bring them over here and have a series,”
Waters told Speedcafe.
He added,
“After going over and seeing how they race and how basic they are, they’re a cool race car and a fairly cheap way to go racing.”
Waters envisions the Truck Series serving as a bridge for talent development, stating,
“I think having a series like that here would be cool to help drivers who want to go to the US, and you could even bring US drivers over here to run in the Truck series.”
He also believes the category would offer a stronger development pathway within Australia than existing options, explaining,
“It’d create a bit of a pathway back and forth and I think it would be a better feeder category [for Supercars] say than the V8 ute series here.”
Technical Insights and Driving Experience with NASCAR Trucks
The NASCAR trucks deliver around 650 horsepower and weigh close to 1500 kilograms, designed mainly for oval track races but also including road course events such as Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, and the Charlotte Roval. Waters compared the driving experience to other racing categories he has tried.
“I’ve driven a TA2 car once. In some ways with that tyre, it felt similar to that, probably a little bit heavier, a bit more grunt,”
Waters explained.
He described the trucks as raw and driver-focused, noting,
“It was a lot of fun, they’re a very raw race car. They’re a driver’s car, it doesn’t have shiftcuts or lock lights or any of that stuff.”
Because of their straightforward design, he pointed out,
“Because they’re so basic it makes them cheap and a lot of fun to drive.”
Future Prospects for NASCAR Truck Series in Australia
Waters’ participation in the Truck Series, especially at Lime Rock, was facilitated by the series’ relative affordability compared to the NASCAR Cup or Xfinity Series. This financial accessibility underpins his confidence that the Truck Series could thrive if introduced to the Australian racing landscape.
With the growing interest in relevant truck models locally and the promise of a strong development ladder for Australian drivers, the NASCAR Truck Series Australia expansion could invigorate grassroots racing. It would also strengthen connections between U.S. and Australian motorsport communities, potentially enriching both sides with fresh talent and competitive opportunities.