by Reid Scearce
Carson Brown to make NASCAR O’Reilly Series debut at Iowa Speedway on Saturday evening in the HyVee Perks 250.
Tomorrow evening, Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport will give 18-year-old Carson Brown his first start in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Iowa Speedway. Brown will drive the rotational No. 32 Chevrolet Camaro, which has been primarily driven by Rajah Caruth and complemented by starts from Andrew Patterson, Ross Chastain, Tyler Ankrum, and Jordan Anderson himself.
Carson Brown Debut at Iowa
Brown, an RCR development driver, has made 11 starts in the ARCA Menards Series for Pinnacle Racing Group, earning a win at Phoenix Raceway and eight top-three finishes. Outside of NASCAR, he’s also a full-time driver in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour and the ASA STARS National Tour points leader, dominating the season with four wins.
Brown said Tuesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he feels his O’Reilly debut is coming at the right moment:
“It was a long time coming, honestly, with my whole RCR family. I knew that once I turned 18 I wanted to make my O’Reilly debut. I felt like it was time. Never really wanted to rush the process per se, but just kind of knew it was time.”
Iowa Speedway will be an interesting track for Brown to make his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut. The 0.875-mile asphalt oval requires patience, but also aggressive traffic management to navigate the high-speed short track. However, the dynamics of this situation play to Brown’s advantage, as those are aspects of racing he has plenty of experience with and has developed through his time in the ASA STARS and CARS Tour.
While making the jump to heavier, higher-horsepower machinery in a national series brings a steep learning curve, the No. 32 program has already proven capable of running inside the top 15 with a variety of driving styles behind the wheel this season. With the No. 32 car currently sitting 18th in Owner Points, it’s not like Brown will be gunning for the win Saturday night. Instead, the opportunity will be about running all the laps he can, gaining invaluable experience behind the wheel, and developing chemistry with the Jordan Anderson Racing crew.
With both RCR O’Reilly seats unconfirmed for next season, Brown will be looking to put his best foot forward as he weighs his numerous potential opportunities for 2027. If his early rise up the NASCAR and super late model ranks is any indication, it likely won’t be long before Brown has a clear path forward.
