Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has tapped Australian Supercars driver Jack Perkins to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Portland International Raceway later this season.
“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.
Perkins will pilot the No. 19 Shaw and Partners Financial Services Toyota GR Supra in the Pacific Office Automation 147 at the road course based in Portland, Oregon.
“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.”
The 38-year-old driver arrived in Huntersville, North Carolina, earlier this week, where he met the Joe Gibbs Racing team, underwent a seat fitting, and spent time in the Toyota Racing Development simulator.
Perkins will be a guest of Joe Gibbs Racing for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series events 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.”
Not everybody within the Joe Gibbs Racing stable is a new face, though, as Perkins has been a lifelong friend of James Small, who serves as crew chief for Chase Briscoe in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“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.”
Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Southern Cross Truck Rentals, TLC Auto Centre, ARB Penrith, and Muscle Car Warehouse will serve as sponsors of the Joe Gibbs Racing entry at Portland.
“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.”
Perkins is the son of six-time Bathurst 1000 race-winner and former Formula 1 driver Larry Perkins, but has managed to make a name for himself racing in Australian Supercars.
The Melbourne, Victoria-native has stood on the podium three times in the Repco Supercars Championship. In the second-tier Dunlop Super2 Series, Perkins has recorded nine victories and 35 podiums, including a second-place in the final championship.
In 2015, Perkins partnered with James Courtney at the GM factory Holden Racing Team to record a victory in the Castrol Gold Coast 600 on the Surfers Paradise street circuit.
Before returning to the United States in late August, Perkins will return to Australia where he’ll continue to serve as co-host and expert commentator for the 7 Network’s coverage of the betr Darwin Triple Crown and NTI Townsville 500 Supercars events.
