Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that Australian Supercars driver Jack Perkins will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this August at Portland International Raceway road course on Saturday, August 30.
Perkins will drive the No. 19 Shaw and Partners Financial Services Toyota Supra for JGR in the Pacific Office Automation 147.
“This is a long-held dream come true for me, and I am so excited about driving in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series for the legendary Joe Gibbs,” Perkins said.
“I started thinking about competing in NASCAR when I first visited the U.S. in 2008 to watch Marcos Ambrose at Sonoma, and be a spotter for Paul Morris, who was contesting an ARCA West race the same weekend.
“It’s been a long journey to get here. I’ve come close a few times, but we couldn’t quite get all the ducks lined up. To do it now with Coach Gibbs and JGR proves you should never give up.”
Perkins arrived in the United States earlier this week, visiting JGR’s Huntersville, NC, headquarters to meet the team, undergo a seat fitting, and spend time in the Toyota Racing Development simulator. He will spend the weekend as a guest of JGR and Toyota attending the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Jack has a distinguished career in the Australian Supercars series and came highly recommended by James Small, our crew chief on the No. 19 team in the Cup Series,” said Steve DeSouza, Executive Vice President Xfinity Series and Development. “We’re excited to have him make his Xfinity Series debut with us on the road course in Portland.”
Perkins also acknowledges his lifelong friend, James Small, now the crew chief for JGR’s No. 19 team in the NASCAR Cup Series for helping to secure this opportunity. Small moved to the United States from Australia to pursue his NASCAR ambitions after a distinguished career in Supercars Series that included winning the Bathurst 1000 crown with drivers Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards in 2013.
“James and I grew up together, running round Australia’s race paddocks as kids while our dads were busy doing their things, and we’ve remained close mates,” Perkins said. “James will be at Darlington with the Cup Series the weekend we’re racing in Portland, but he’s doing everything he can to help me prepare and ensure JGR and I have a successful experience. Without James, the whole deal just wouldn’t be happening.”
Longtime backers Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Southern Cross Truck Rentals, TLC Auto Centre, ARB Penrith and Muscle Car Warehouse are supporting Perkins’ US venture with JGR.
“Shaw and Partners Financial Services has supported Jack for over five years now, and our partnership is robust,” Shaw and Partners CEO Earl Evans said. “Jack’s fun to be around, and his passion for racing is infectious. On track, he is a solid performer and a complete professional, so when this opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing came along, we did not hesitate to support Jack in what will be a lifetime experience for us all.”
The son of six-time Bathurst 1000 winner and former Formula 1 driver Larry Perkins, Perkins is a highly successful driver in his own right, with numerous victories across multiple series.
Perkins has three Repco Supercars Championship podium finishes, nine race victories, and 35 podiums in the Supercars’ NASCAR Xfinity-equivalent Dunlop Super2 Series, including a series runner-up. He also has an impressive 30 race wins from 36 starts in the Australian Sports Sedan Championship and five race wins and 16 podium finishes from 25 starts in the New Zealand V8SuperTourer Series.
Perkins’ biggest career win came in 2015 when he partnered James Courtney at the GM factory Holden Racing Team to record a popular victory in the Castrol Gold Coast 600 on the Surfers Paradise street circuit.
Before returning to the U.S. in late August, he will return home to Australia to continue as a co-host and expert commentator for the 7 Network’s coverage of the betr Darwin Triple Crown and NTI Townsville 500 Supercars events.
— Joe Gibbs Racing —