Overview
- Grove Racing confirmed it refused Matt Payne permission to race in any NASCAR event while he remains under contract through the end of 2027, saying the decision protects his Supercars commitments.
- Media reports say Richard Childress Racing had offered Payne a Cup Series seat at Sonoma and that an earlier request to race in the O’Reilly (Xfinity) Series was also denied by Grove.
- Payne travelled to the United States after the Christchurch round for a development camp with coach Josh Wise, and questions have been raised about whether any GM‑linked facilities were used during that trip.
- Grove pointed to Payne’s recovery from a broken wrist as a welfare reason for the refusal, while Payne’s manager and paddock sources say General Motors is actively pursuing him for a future role at factory Team 18.
- The dispute reflects a wider manufacturer tug of war triggered by recent cross‑series moves, and it could lead to contract buyouts or longer legal and commercial negotiations if GM seeks to accelerate Payne’s transfer.