Perkins unveils fresh NASCAR livery for Portland Xfinity debut
Australian driver Jack Perkins will tackle the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Portland this weekend with a newly designed look, piloting the No. 19 Shaw and Partners Financial Services Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Pacific Office Automation 147. The race at Portland International Raceway marks Perkins’ return to the series, following his debut at Chicago earlier this year, and comes a year after Shane van Gisbergen took the victory there.
Perkins will race under the gaze of family and friends, with his father, six-time Bathurst 1000 winner and former Formula 1 driver Larry Perkins, alongside Supercars co-driver James Courtney in attendance. Non-motorsport figures such as six-time World Ironman Champion Shannon Eckstein and Australian Olympian Jimmy Walker are also spotted in the crowd.
“The No. 19 Shaw and Partners Financial Services Toyota GR Supra looks ace,” Perkins said. “Shaw and Partners CEO Earl Evans and I decided we should give the car a fresh look for our second NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance at Portland, and it looks the part – Peter Hughesy has done it yet again. It’s going to be special having so many of my sponsors and friends here; I can’t thank them enough for making the long journey for the race.”
Perkins, who is in his second NASCAR Xfinity Series race, isn’t new to Portland. He previously competed in a Trans Am race at the venue in July, though mechanical gremlins cut that outing short. He noted that Portland is now a source of valuable experience with the Toyota GR Supra, and he’s targeting a strong performance after qualifying fifth in Chicago raised expectations.
With the format adjusted this year to feature three-minute timed stops at stage breaks instead of traditional pit stops, Perkins stressed that qualifying becomes even more critical. He hopes for a clean run and a forward-facing result, aiming to be contending at the front of the field come the finish.
Practice is slated to begin at 5:00 AM AEST on Sunday, with qualifying at 6:05 AM AEST. The Pacific Office Automation 147 starts at 9:30 AM AEST and will be broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
What to watch
– How Perkins adapts to the Portland layout in the Xfinity car, given his prior Trans Am experience there.
– The impact of the 3-minute stage-stop format on strategy and performance.
– The growth of the No. 19 entry alongside JGR’s operations and Shaw and Partners’ backing.
Context and value
This event underscores an expanding cross-over in motorsports, with Australian drivers like Perkins bringing international attention to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. The fresh livery signals a renewed push for sponsor visibility and fan engagement as Perkins builds his NASCAR resume on a track where last year’s winner set a high bar.
Summary
Perkins is launching a refreshed look for his Portland Xfinity Series outing, backed by Shaw and Partners, with family and notable guests in attendance. He’s banking on prior Portland familiarity and the updated race format to help him challenge at the front and make a meaningful impression in his second NASCAR start.
Additional notes
– The event continues to help raise Perkins’ profile in both NASCAR and the broader international motorsport community, potentially opening doors for future opportunities in the series.
– Expect tight competition in qualifying given the shortened strategic windows and the importance of a clean start in a race with fewer pit stops.