Shane van Gisbergen Supercars success in NASCAR, highlighted by his breakthrough Cup debut victory in Chicago, has served as a powerful inspiration for fellow Australian driver Jack Perkins, who will now make his first appearance in NASCAR competition with Joe Gibbs Racing. Perkins, an experienced Supercars competitor, will take the wheel of the #19 Toyota in the Xfinity Series race at Portland International Raceway on August 30, hoping to add his name to the list of Australians transitioning from Supercars to stock car racing in the United States.
Jack Perkins Follows the Path Set by Supercars Champions
Jack Perkins, who has contested over 150 Supercars races in Australia, is set to become the fifth Australian driver from the Supercars series to make his debut in NASCAR. He joins a select group that includes Shane van Gisbergen, Brodie Kostecki, Will Brown, and Cam Waters, all of whom have tried their skill in American stock car racing. Perkins will compete in a one-off Xfinity Series event for Joe Gibbs Racing at the challenging Portland International Raceway, a 1.9-mile road course featuring 75 laps that serve as the last race before the playoffs begin.
The opportunity for Perkins to race in NASCAR came about thanks to a recommendation from James Small, crew chief for Chase Briscoe in the NASCAR Cup Series. Both Small and Perkins have shared a long friendship dating back to their early racing days in Australia, which played a crucial role in facilitating this significant career move.
Jack Perkins expressed his excitement at achieving this long-awaited milestone.
“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,”
he said. —Jack Perkins, Driver
Perkins traced the origins of his NASCAR ambitions back to 2008, when he first visited the United States and witnessed Marcos Ambrose racing at Sonoma, while also serving as a spotter for Paul Morris.
“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,”
he added. —Jack Perkins, Driver
The journey to this opportunity has not been straightforward for Perkins, involving numerous near-misses and setbacks.
“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.”
—Jack Perkins, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Continues His Own NASCAR Journey
While Jack Perkins prepares for his debut, Shane van Gisbergen remains at the center of attention after charting a course from Supercars stardom to making headlines in NASCAR. Van Gisbergen demonstrated his exceptional talent on road courses by winning his very first Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago, providing a blueprint for Supercars drivers with aspirations in American motorsport.
Recently, van Gisbergen experienced the highs and lows of NASCAR competition when he secured pole position for the NASCAR All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway, marking his best qualifying performance of the season. The Trackhouse Racing driver acknowledged that road course expertise does not always guarantee immediate results on ovals, reflecting on the learning involved in adapting to this new format.
“I think we finally got all the things right. Qualifying has been a weakness. My lap was pretty good, coming in was good […] I’ve never started at the front for an oval, so I don’t know what to do there. I have to learn the rules and see how we go.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Despite leading the most laps in the race, van Gisbergen missed out on a transfer spot to the All-Star Race, finishing 13th behind Carson Hocevar and John Hunter Nemechek. This pole run, although part of a non-points event, was a bright moment in what has otherwise been a challenging rookie season for the New Zealander, who has managed just one top-10 finish so far at Circuit of the Americas with Chevrolet.
Impact on the Future of Australian Drivers in NASCAR
Jack Perkins’ entry into NASCAR underlines the influence that Shane van Gisbergen’s Supercars success in NASCAR has had on ambitious drivers from Australia and New Zealand. Perkins’ opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing highlights how established relationships, such as his with James Small, can open doors for emerging talents. For the sport, the continued influx of Supercars veterans adds diversity and international prominence to the NASCAR grid, suggesting a growing connection between the Australian and American racing communities.
As Perkins gets ready for his Xfinity Series debut at Portland International Raceway, his story adds another compelling chapter to the exchange of motorsport talent and strategy between hemispheres. The results of this event, and the ongoing adaptation by van Gisbergen and other drivers in NASCAR, will shape future opportunities for Supercars stars considering the American racing scene.
