Cam Waters content despite Sonoma DNF
Waters caught up in Turn 11 pile-up in NASCAR race
Tickford star returning to Australia for Darwin round
Cam Waters isn’t letting a DNF cast a pall on his NASCAR Cup Series debut, with the Supercars star pumped by his opening stint.
Waters and Supercars rival Will Brown encountered a rollercoaster race in Sonoma, with Brown 31st and Waters retiring due to damage.
While Brown was ruled out of contention with a mechanical issue, Waters was an innocent bystander in an incident.
Waters qualified 31st in his #60 RFK Racing Mustang, but crept through the field as the race wore on towards the first stage break.
The Tickford Racing driver was just outside the top 10 when Josh Berry skittled the field — Waters included — at Turn 11.
Turn 11 treachery. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CGlWTiSQDR
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 9, 2024
The #60 Ford picked up splitter and toe link damage, with Waters forced into the garage and into retirement.
"During the first bit of the race, we were really haulin’, we were passing cars,” he said in a social media video.
"It felt really fast, and we had a really good strategy. So, we were looking really good there until, I don't know what you call it, everyone come together at 11.
“Just got massive steering damage and that was kind of our day done. So, pretty unfortunate, but I'm not gonna let that put a dampener on my day.”
Waters now has three NASCAR starts under his belt, with the 29-year-old making two Truck Series starts earlier this year.
The Mildura-born driver wants another crack at the Cup Series, with Waters now set to return to Australia for this weekend’s betr Darwin Triple Crown.
"I had so much fun this weekend, it was absolutely awesome,” he said.
"I can't thank everyone enough who made this all happen. RFK, Ford, AUKUS, BuildSubs.com, all our partners. Can't thank you all enough. It's a dream come true to come and do this."
Waters and Brown will return to Australia after their Sonoma cameos for Round 5 of the 2024 season in Darwin. Brown leads the championship over teammate Broc Feeney by 136 points, with Waters fourth behind Ford star Chaz Mostert.
The betr Darwin Triple Crown will be held on June 14-16. Tickets for the event are on sale now. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.