Motorsport: Whincup puts NASCAR dreams on backburner

Jamie Whincup. Photo / Getty Images.

V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup has put his NASCAR dreams on the backburner to remain in Australia with Team Vodafone for the next three years.

Whincup has pledged his long-term future to Team Vodafone and Holden until the end of 2015, agreeing to a deal to stay with the team he has won three V8 championships with.

It ends, for now, speculation the 29-year-old would move to the American stock car racing series NASCAR.

But Whincup privately admits he still harbours ambitions of eventually testing himself in the United States, believing he is young enough to get the best of both worlds.

"It feels great knowing that I am settled long-term, in an environment that I am happy with and a team that has the enthusiasm to continue to set the benchmark,'' said Whincup on Wednesday.

"My whole focus is on this year's V8 Supercar championship, however I look forward to working with the crew and being a part of the development process of Car of the Future.''

His contract also locks in the key pieces of Holden's V8 Supercar campaign going into a new era next year when additional manufacturers will be allowed into the series to join Holden and Ford.

Already Holden has pledged medium-term financial support to Team Vodafone and Holden Racing Team.

Team Vodafone has signed Whincup's teammate Craig Lowndes for the next three years, while HRT has Garth Tander and James Courtney under contract.

Team Vodafone boss Roland Dane expressed delight with Whincup's re-signing just a fortnight after Lowndes re-committed.

Dane is now convinced his team can continue their dominance of the series with the two men he considers the sport's best drivers.

"With both Jamie and Craig on board I know that we have the strongest driver line-up in the V8 Supercar championship series,'' Dane said.

"Jamie has time and time again proven to be not only the ultimate winner but also the ultimate fighter.''

Whincup currently sits second in the championship after the opening races of the series in Adelaide earlier this month.

He will compete in the V8 Supercar non-championship round as part of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Qualifying will be held on Thursday ahead of two races on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

The next round for championship points is scheduled for Launceston from March 30 to April 1.

- AAP