Things are about to get a lot more interesting in the Xfinity Series. Ever since Shane van Gisbergen won the Chicago Street Race on his debut in 2023, there has been an influx of Supercars talent wanting to try out NASCAR. Heavy hitters such as Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown have competed in the stock car racing series in the last few years, and Cam Waters has also attempted to make his mark in the discipline. And now, another veteran is making his way to the sport’s second tier.
Third-generation racer Jack Perkins has secured a deal to compete for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Could the 38-year-old make his mark on his debut just like SVG did a few years ago? His predecessor certainly isn’t ruling the possibility out.
Shane van Gisbergen has high hopes for Perkins
Jack Perkins has been there and done that. The veteran racer has over 150 starts in Australian Supercars and has won the 2015 Gold Coast 600 Race while serving as a co-driver for James Courtney. He has also made 19 Bathurst 1000 appearances, finishing on the podium in 2019. Racing is in the Melbourne-based driver’s blood, as his father, Larry Perkins, was a six-time winner of the Bathurst 1000 back in the day. Now, he’s is off to a new adventure, one that will test his versatility to the limit.
Shane van Gisbergen knows Perkins, having raced against him in the Australian Supercars Series. Issuing a warning to the rest of the Xfinity Series grid, the Kiwi-native candidly said, “Yes, so Jack Perkins, we started in Supercars around the same time. 2007 or 8. He’s a great driver. Hasn’t done too much lately. Obviously, he’ll be in a good car. Gibbs car. Portland won’t be too many Cup guys there. I think he’ll surprise a few people, and on the road course he’ll be pretty good.”
As things stand, Jack Perkins has secured a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing to run the No. 19 Toyota Supra in Portland on August 30th. Shaw and Partners Financial Services are all set to fund the effort, in what looks like a calculated gamble to bring in the racer from the land down under. He has already visited Joe Gibbs Racing’s shop in Huntersville, North Carolina, for seat fitting and took some laps in the Toyota simulator, and will be a guest of the team for Memorial Day Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
.@shanevg97 is looking forward to seeing his V8 Supercars friend Jack Perkins race with @JoeGibbsRacing in a few weeks in the Xfinity Series from @portlandraceway #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RFEbs8PM4H
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 24, 2025
Just like Shane van Gisbergen won on his debut in Chicago, it’s well within the realm of possibility that Perkins could surprise everyone with a triumph in Portland. Reigning champ Justin Allgaier once said, “Portland is definitely a unique and challenging road course,” but given the Australian’s age and experience, he could rise to the challenge despite being in unfamiliar conditions.
Over the last few years, NASCAR has become a hub for international talent, with plenty of Supercars drivers making their way into the sport. General Motors has even suggested greater collaboration between the two series, with motorsport executive director Eric Warren saying, “We’re seeing really a lot of cross-development between the NASCAR teams and the Supercars teams.” Could this exchange improve the standard of both the racing competitions in the future? It certainly looks like it, especially with drivers broadening their horizons to different disciplines.
Jack Perkins is excited about the opportunity
Agreeing to race in NASCAR wasn’t a random knee-jerk reaction for Australian racer Jack Perkins. The veteran has always been a fan of the stock car racing series, and when the opportunity came to compete for a prestigious team like Joe Gibbs Racing, the Melbourne-based driver simply couldn’t let it pass by. While the 38-year-old will also be teaming up with James Courtney for the Bend 500, his focus remains on the race at Portland later this year.
Sharing his thoughts ahead of his debut, Perkins said, “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. 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.”
Jack Perkins will have some help, though. His lifelong friend, James Small, is currently serving as crew chief for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe, and the veteran said, “he’s doing everything he can to help me prepare and ensure JGR and I have a successful experience.” Even though Small will be in Darlington for the Cup Series race when the Xfinity Series goes to Portland, having the guidance of an experienced crew chief while preparing will give the driver some confidence ahead of his debut.
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