The Green family lineage runs deep in NASCAR. Both David Green and Jeff Green are Xfinity Series champions. Now, it’s Austin Green, David’s son, who’s carrying on the familial tradition.
Austin has been racing since he was 4 years old. He began racing go karts before transitioning to bandoleros and legend cars, running races like the Summer Shootout at the Charlotte Motor Speedway quarter mile. He was inspired by his father and uncles to chase the same dream.
“Always at a race track, so that was nice,” Austin said of his upbringing. “It’s normal for me being at the race track. I like that atmosphere. It’s a home away from a home.”
Fast forward to 2021 and Green was dipping his toes into Trans-Am, competing on road courses for the first time. It wasn’t until he connected with Doug Peterson, owner of Peterson Racing Group, that he raced full time in any division, coming in 2023.
As a rookie, he earned four podium finishes and seven top-10 finishes in TA2. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, he was informed that he would get a part-time opportunity in the Xfinity Series with a partnership between Peterson and Jordan Anderson Racing.
“It was a dream come true,” Green reflected. “I think I was more in shock than anything. I can’t thank Doug Peterson enough for taking a chance on me and believing in me.”
Putting his recent road course abilities to the test, Green made his series debut at Circuit of The Americas. After starting 25th, the No. 32 Chevrolet moved forward throughout the event and, after a chaotic last few restarts, found himself in seventh at the checkered flag.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I didn’t know what was going on,” Green added. “Even just driving those [cars] in Xfinity is a dream come true, so I had that to deal with. Lining up towards the front on the last restart. I really wasn’t thinking a lot, but a lot was going on.”
Green returned to the Xfinity Series at Portland, finishing 15th. At Sonoma, he got off strategy from the leaders and moved his way forward. He took the checkered flag in fourth, tying Jordan Anderson Racing’s best finish of the season.
That recent road course repetitions from the TA2 car came in handy.
“The Xfinity [car] is a lot heavier, a bit more powerful, but at the end of the day, it’s still a racecar,” Green said. “Trying to learn how to drive a low downforce heavier car on a road course. You’ve got to learn little tricks in how to approach corners, braking.”
Running the streets of Chicago, Green chalked another top 10 finish. Over the weekend at Watkins Glen, he finished 11th despite being in the middle of a last-lap crash. Through five starts, he’s yet to score outside the top 15.
Team owner Jordan Anderson knew of Green for roughly a decade. He credits Green for helping his full-time drivers Jeb Burton and Parker Retzlaff become better road course competitors.
“I feel like [Green] has elevated our whole program,” Anderson said. “He’s done an excellent job on the race track. I think he is showing that’s how you make the most of an opportunity. He’s got a minimum amount of starts. But he’s going out there and you don’t see him, and he pops up there at the end in the top 10.
“That’s what you have to do in this series. He’s done a fantastic job, taking care of the equipment and continues making our whole road course program better. I’ve got big expectations for him on the horizon and doing more of what he has been.”
The goal for Green in his limited starts was to “run well and make a good impression.” He tries to be a sponge and soak up information from the guys around him while leaning on his family and close friend Ty Gibbs for advice.
In addition to running the full Trans-Am schedule and a handful of Xfinity dates, Green has recently dipped back into a late model to prepare him for upcoming short tracks. He will make his first Xfinity start on an oval this weekend at Bristol and could possibly hop in the No. 32 car again at Martinsville in the penultimate race of the season.
“I grew up on short tracks. That’s where I came from,” Green stated. “The road course stuff is fairly new. Last year was the first year. I will try to prepare as best as I can and go out and drive it.”
Green isn’t shying away from dreaming big, either. He hopes to make a good enough impression where he eventually can find a full-time ride and move up the proverbial ladder to the Cup Series.
“Hopefully go full time in Xfinity one day,” he said emphatically. “Then, make it to the Cup Series and have a good career in that and race on Sundays.”
First up is Bristol this weekend.