Saturday Top 10- Supercars Support Category Drivers

The Supercars supports are a minefield of talent: drivers who just were in the wrong place at the wrong time for a SUpercars career to work (e.g. Ash Walsh), veterans (e.g. John Bowe) and youngsters (e.g. Zane Goddard) all make up a diverse selection. The best of the bunch is hard to determine considering the varieties are just as wide (SuperUtes, Super2, Super3, Toyota 86 Racing Series, Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, Aussie Racing Cars, and Stadium Super Trucks and from next year at the AGP, TCR and S5000). In this Top 10, the best of the best, the top dogs, the crème de la crème of those outside of Supercars are ranked. Who will be the best?

10. Justin Ruggier

Starting with probably the best driver in Aussie Racing Cars, a commentator of the Speedweek E-Sports Challenge and a Super2 driver for Eggleston Motorsport- Justin Ruggier. He's been doing quite well so far this year in Super2 but it's his achievements in ARC that have him on the list, being the champion last year.

9. Tim Brook

Tim Brook has become an icon of the Toyota 86 Racing Series that has unveiled such gems as Cam Hill, Cameron Crick and Luke Van-Herwaarde. He's won one title and is well on the way to backing it up. Tim's also turned out in TCR Australia, holding his own against a field more experienced in the same machinery.

8. Ryal Harris

Ryal's a stalwart of racing in Australia. He's only not been in Supercars as his local team (and mine!), Peters Motorsport, never had the backing to take him there. He's been loyal to them for 10 years, having big battles with the likes of Kim Jane and Markus Zukanovic among others in V8 Utes and now Tom Alexander and Craig Woods in the SuperUtes, taking a total of four titles along the way. He also runs a Camaro in TCM and is second in that championship, as well as only losing the lead of the SuperUtes after a DNS at Bathurst due to a mechanical failure.

7. Tom Randle

Tom Randle's made a lot of people sit up and take notice. He's on Tickford's books as their only Super2 driver and the only regular Ford driver other than Matt Chahda, with Anton and Richie Stanaway going up to the main game, Shae Davies going to GTs and Josh Kean being rubbish over the last few years for either Tickford or Paul Morris before both scaled down to 1 and no cars respectively. Randle's second in the Super2 championship this year and impressed on a wildcard at The Bend and at Bathurst with Lee Holdsworth.

6. Greg Biffle

This doesn't seem right. A former NASCAR driver in Australian support serie(s?)? Yes, Greg Biffle is around for the Stadium Super Trucks. They have returned to Australia for Gold Coast after their ban was overturned, and Russell Ingall, Biffle and Matt Brabham are among the drivers. They are very well known, particularily NASCAR race winner Biffle.

5. Steven Johnson

Stevie J is the top dog of recent times in TCM. He's won three titles in a row and is currently in his last season in his famous Mustang with an XD Falcon being debuted next year. Despite challenges from John Bowe, Adam Bressington, Ryal Harris, Ryan Hansford, Mark King, Jim Pollicina and Aaron Seton over the course of time, Johnson has reigned supreme.

Not to mention his father, his Supercars career, his success at Bathurst, etc.

4. Will Brown

Will's this high not because of his recent Super2 performances, including a dismal Bathurst, but due to a fighting performance in the first S5000 weekend and his dominance of the TCR series. He could be on for big things in WTCR in the future.

3. Jordan Love

Jordan could be the next Matt Campbell or Jaxon Evans. He's steamrollered not just the other young drivers over the year but also the entire field over the last two rounds, winning six out of six races. Watch his performance at the Supercup Shootout in December.

2. Bryce Fullwood

In this list this is the shocker. The biggest Supports category, the second Supercars series, it's leader is not the leader of this list? But yes. Fullwood has been insane this season, though. He's the runaway leader of the Super2 series from names who have had luck like Kostecki, Randle and Goddard and those who haven't like Brown and Walsh. He would likely have been rewarded with a Kelly Racing berth for 2020 with Simona linked away, but for their scaling back to two cars.

Now, for your Number 1...

1. Steve Richards

Yes! Even though Steve Richards is low in the championship in Carrera Cup, that's more due to a massive crash in his first race of the season and some fraught luck from there putting them well behind in car pace. But, Steve Richards is a consistent performer, a five time Bathurst champion and a legend of the sport, having partnered Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom (in two different teams) and his father Jim at Bathrust and having driven in the main game for a while in the 1990s and 2000s.

Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below!