Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that it will bring Australian Supercars driver Jack Perkins into the fold for an upcoming trip to the West Coast.
Perkins will drive the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra during the Aug. 30 race at Portland International Raceway. This will mark his NASCAR debut and will help him check off a goal he set several years prior.
"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 in a press release. "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."
Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Southern Cross Truck Rentals, TLC Auto Centre, ARB Penrith, and Muscle Car Warehouse will serve as Perkins's sponsors as he takes on the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Perkins, the son of six-time Bathurst 1000 winner Larry Perkins, has scored wins across multiple divisions of competition. This includes nine race victories and 35 podiums in the Dunlop Super2 Series, which is the equivalent of the Xfinity Series.
Perkins also has 30 wins in the Australian Sports Sedan Championship and five wins in the New Zealand V8SuperTourer Series.
The biggest win of his career, however, came in 2015. He and James Courtney captured the second Castrol Gold Coast 600 Supercars event for Holden Factory Team with a mixture of speed and fuel strategy
Two of the drivers he beat were Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin, both of whom won three championships before heading to the United States to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series and NTT IndyCar Series, respectively.
The veteran driver will now take on a different road course while competing against numerous NASCAR veterans. He will also join the team currently featuring one of his childhood friends, a Cup Series-winning crew chief.
"James (Small) 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."