Talk of US move intensifies

BATHURST: A move to the United States is back on the cards for New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin after the Supercars star impressed American motorsport giant Roger Penske with his stunning maiden Bathurst 1000 victory on Sunday.

The Ford gun admitted he did not care what category Penske had in mind for him in the US, saying he would ‘‘race a wheelbarrow if I need to’’.

McLaughlin (26) has been linked to a Nascar move but that appeared to be put to bed when the defending series champion resigned with Supercars heavyweights DJR Team Penske in July until the end of 2020.

However Penske, the majority owner of McLaughlin’s Ford team, who also owns Nascar and IndyCar outfits, kept the door ajar for his charge after the American savoured his first Bathurst victory at Mount Panorama.

‘‘We want him to come over [to the United States],’’ Penske said.

‘‘He’s got a good future. You will see him in America I am sure in the near future.’’

Asked what made McLaughlin such an appealing Nascar prospect, Penske said: ‘‘Let’s call him a race driver.

‘‘He’s a guy who knows how to win, knows how to race fast and has great commercial savvy to us in today’s world as we deal with our partners.’’

McLaughlin then interjected: ‘‘I will race a wheelbarrow if I need to.’’

But Penske hinted that he would look at relocating McLaughlin only once he completed his Supercars contract.

‘‘We have a job to do here. We are committed to our sponsors on a longterm basis so we have to look at that,’’ he said.

‘‘Scotty has a great future with us. People ask what are we going to do next — at the right time we will figure that out.’’

McLaughlin seemed happy to stay in Australia for now.

And why not? McLaughlin extended his Supercars championship lead to 622 points with his stirring Bathurst victory.

With Penske looking on from the Ford garage, McLaughlin held out fellow Kiwi in Shane van Gisbergen by 0.68sec to be crowned King of the Mountain for the first time.

McLaughlin had earlier claimed pole position with an extraordinary Mount Panorama lap record.

A Bathurst win appeared to tick off the last entry on McLaughlin’s wish list in Australia but he said he still had things to achieve in Supercars.

Asked what was his next challenge, McLaughlin said: ‘‘Who knows, but I still have things I want to achieve here. I want to keep winning.’’

Penske was sure grateful McLaughlin wanted to stick around in Supercars after the Kiwi reinvigorated his once battling DJR Team Penske outfit since signing in 2017.

‘‘We knew getting Scott was going to make a big difference.

‘‘He lifts the momentum of the team, and I think that helps him lift to the next level.’’

Team coowner Dick Johnson added: ‘‘Having Scotty up front is a real bonus, from our point of view he is a cut above the rest.’’ — AAP

❛ I will race a wheelbarrow if I need to