Waters, an 11-time winner in Supercars, will make his second Truck begin of the 2024 season at Kansas with ThorSport Racing.
He’s adamant he want to discover an eventual house in a NASCAR nationwide collection, however is aware of the trail will not be a simple one.
“I might like to race NASCAR full-time, however entering into NASCAR could be very difficult,” Waters mentioned Friday at Kansas Speedway. “And proper now, I’m having plenty of enjoyable in Australia and doing the NASCAR races this 12 months. It’s truly been fairly cool. And a great steadiness, I believe.
“So, for now, simply get by means of this weekend, like we did in Martinsville. However simply see what could or could not conflict later within the 12 months, and that’s sort of a great idea.”
Future plans
Requested if he was extra prone to do extra races this season or wait till subsequent, Waters appeared centered on the latter.
“Nicely, extra probably subsequent 12 months. I believe it provides me extra time to search out some sponsorship and all that stuff. And you realize, have a look at the calendars once more,” he mentioned. “Let’s simply get by means of this weekend and see how we go and go from there.”
Waters’ debut final month was on a brief oval at Martinsville whereas this weekend’s race will take a look at the 29-year-old Australia native on a tougher 1.5-mile intermediate speedway.
Waters ran effectively in observe at Martinsville, certified twenty second of 34 vans and with groups working various pit methods within the race, he received as excessive as twelfth by the beginning of the ultimate 100-lap stage.
Whereas the primary half of the race was largely calm and incident-free, the ultimate stage was plagued by six multi-truck wrecks, two of which Waters received collected in. He would find yourself thirtieth however his curiosity in NASCAR wasn’t deterred.
Jake Garcia, ThorSport Racing, Quanta Companies Ford F-150, Cam Waters, ThorSport Racing, TRADIE Ford F-150
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
“I’ve completely liked it (in NASCAR). Like, Martinsville, it was superior, and I didn’t actually have any expectations,” he mentioned. “I didn’t actually know what to assume. However I attempted to maintain an open thoughts, and yeah, I simply completely liked it, had a ball racing, was fairly wild.
“Everybody was telling me it was going to be, and it was and, you realize, the crew was actually useful and made me really feel welcomed and helped me put together as a lot as I may.”
Shifting to an intermediate speedway, Waters has been making ready with time within the Ford Efficiency simulator and leaning on his teammates at ThorSport, together with reigning collection champion Ben Rhodes.
“You understand, the massive focus was truly simply on race craft; the vans are so distinctive,” Rhodes mentioned of his dialogue with Waters. “We’re simply so aero-oriented; every little thing we do comes all the way down to aero and Kansas isn’t actually an exception to that. I might say this is likely to be one of many extra aero-sensitive tracks that we go to.
“And the truth that it’s progressive (banking), you may take these runs a bit of bit in another way than a few of the different race tracks. So, it was sort of engaged on that. The best way to take your runs correctly, in order that when you will have the run, capitalize on it.”
Cam Waters, ThorSport Racing, TRADIE Ford F-150 Jack Wooden, McAnally Hilgemann Racing, Instacoat Premium Merchandise Chevrolet Silverado
Picture by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Images
Waters mentioned he appears to be like at his NASCAR races as a “studying expertise” and doesn’t place any expectations on himself. As an alternative, he tries gleaning as a lot data as potential whereas on observe due to the restricted alternatives.
“You understand, I wish to study, I wish to choose it up, and I would like it to go effectively, however I’m not coming right here to win the race. So, I’m not putting any strain on me for that,” he mentioned. “I believe if we are able to end (Saturday) evening, it could be superior.
“Clearly, we had good velocity at Martinsville, so it’d be good to try to end someplace the place that velocity was. Coming right here being a a lot completely different observe, I’m not likely positive the place we’re going to stack up actually within the discipline.
“I believe if we are able to maintain it clear for the evening, study as a lot as I can, hopefully, I’m within the combine. If I can get that again half of the highest 10 and even prime 15, that will be a terrific consequence.”