Australian Supercars Star Jack Perkins Races NASCAR Debut at Portland

Australian Supercars veteran Jack Perkins will join the NASCAR Xfinity Series field at Portland International Raceway on August 30. Perkins, aged 38, will drive the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Over his career, Perkins has made more than 150 starts in Australian Supercars. In 2015, he claimed the win in the second race of the Gold Coast 600 as co-driver with James Courtney.

Perkins also took a podium position in the Bathurst 1000 in 2019. He is the son of Larry Perkins, who has won the Bathurst 1000 six times. For more details on the history of this iconic race, check out the Bathurst 1000 official page.

This will be Perkins’ first NASCAR start in the United States, following in the tire tracks of several other Supercars stars. He visited the Joe Gibbs Racing shop in North Carolina, where he completed a seat fitting and simulation laps in preparation for the event.

Perkins will spend Memorial Day Weekend with the JGR team at Charlotte Motor Speedway for further orientation before making his stateside racing debut. Shaw and Partners Financial Services will sponsor his Portland entry.

Perkins called the opportunity a “long-held dream come true.” He first considered NASCAR after his visit to the U.S. in 2008, where he watched Marcos Ambrose compete at Sonoma Raceway and helped as a spotter for Paul Morris.

Perkins has had near opportunities in the past but was unable to finalize a deal until now. He acknowledged Cup series crew chief and fellow Australian James Small for helping organize his upcoming run with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Australian drivers have increasingly appeared in NASCAR events over the last few seasons. Shane van Gisbergen won the Chicago Street Course Cup race in his debut in 2023 and now races full-time for Trackhouse Racing, aiming for Rookie of the Year honors. For more on NASCAR’s international drivers, visit NASCAR’s official site.

Brodie Kostecki, the 2023 Supercars champion, competed in the Cup and Xfinity ranks, while Will Brown and Cam Waters have also made their first NASCAR appearances. The transfer of talent highlights the growing connection between Supercars and NASCAR.

Joe Gibbs Racing remains one of the most successful teams in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, providing strong equipment and a winning pedigree. Perkins will step into a ride that has produced multiple victories in recent years and will face a competitive field at the Portland road course. Learn more about Joe Gibbs Racing’s history on their team profile.

The event gives Perkins a significant chance to showcase his skills on an international stage. Perkins’ Supercars tenure includes 19 Bathurst 1000 starts, plenty of endurance experience, and a reputation for consistent performance.

His ability to adapt to different race cars will be closely watched by NASCAR and Supercars fans. As the latest in a line of Australians reaching American stock car racing, Perkins is aiming for a strong result as he writes the next chapter of his career.

Fans will see Perkins join the Xfinity Series at Portland at the end of August. His debut serves as the latest reminder of the growing crossover between major touring car championships, offering both Supercars and NASCAR fans an exciting storyline to follow this season.

Additionally, Perkins will spend Memorial Day Weekend with the JGR team at Charlotte for further orientation.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.