Jack Perkins Bio
Jack Perkins (born 22 August 1986) is an Australian professional motor racing driver who competes in the Supercars Championship. He currently co-drives the No. 7 Ford Mustang with James Courtney for Blanchard Racing Team in the Pirtek Enduro Cup. The son of retired Australian racer and former team owner Larry Perkins, he has built a versatile career that spans touring cars, development series, and selected NASCAR starts.
Across more than two decades in the sport, Jack Perkins has been a full-time driver, an endurance specialist, and a television commentator. He is also a spokesperson for Diabetes Australia following his own diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes, and continues to balance his driving duties with broadcast work for categories such as the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series and Australian GT events.
Early Life and Background
Jack Perkins was born on 22 August 1986 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He grew up around racing, the son of Larry Perkins, one of Australia’s most respected touring car drivers and a former Bathurst 1000 champion. The Perkins family name has long been associated with the No. 11 entry in Australian motorsport, a tradition Jack would later carry on the track.
Raised in a workshop environment, Jack was introduced to motorsport at a young age through his father’s Perkins Engineering operation. The family-run team competed in the V8 Supercars Championship, and the garage became a practical classroom where Jack learned the craft of preparing and racing touring cars. This grounding shaped his early path into competitive racing.
Path to NASCAR
In May 2025, it was announced that Jack Perkins would make his NASCAR debut, driving in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing at Portland International Raceway. The plan was later moved forward, with Perkins entering the Chicago street course race on 26 June 2025. The opportunity with one of NASCAR’s top teams followed years of strong endurance performances in Australia and put him on an international stage for the first time.
Jack Perkins Career
Early Career (2006–2008)
Perkins began his senior career with the family-run Perkins Engineering team in 2006, driving the No. 78 entry in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series alongside Shane Price. He finished third in the standings and was also drafted into the team’s endurance lineup, sharing the No. 11 Jack Daniel’s Commodore with Price at the Sandown 500 and the Bathurst 1000. The Bathurst outing ended on the opening lap after Perkins collided with Mark Skaife’s stricken car on Mountain Straight.
When Steven Richards and Paul Dumbrell left Perkins Engineering at the end of 2006, Jack and Price were promoted to full-time championship drives for 2007. The season was disrupted when Perkins was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes shortly before the penultimate round, forcing him out of the No. 11 seat for the final events. He returned to action in 2008 through the Development Series with Independent Race Cars Australia, winning a round at Oran Park on his way to fifth in the standings, and rejoined the main series from the Indy Grand Prix round onward.
V8 Supercars Championship Breakthrough (2009–2014)
Perkins moved to Kelly Racing in 2009 following the merger with Perkins Engineering, taking over the No. 11 Commodore previously driven by Todd Kelly. The new four-car team struggled for results, and Perkins was not retained for 2010. He spent that year working as a signwriter at Paul Morris Motorsport, while also contesting the second-tier Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in a spare PMM chassis.
His form in 2010 earned him a call-up to James Rosenberg Racing for the Phillip Island 500 with Tim Slade, where the pair finished a strong fifth. Later that year, Perkins stepped into Russell Ingall’s seat alongside Ingall himself at the Gold Coast 600, echoing the famous Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall partnership that had produced two Bathurst crowns. He signed with Garry Rogers Motorsport for 2012 endurance events with Alexandre Premat, and in 2013 paired with rookie Scott McLaughlin at the Pirtek Endurance Cup, equalling his previous best Bathurst result with eighth.
In 2014, Perkins piloted the No. 18 Jeld Wen Ford FG Falcon for Charlie Schwerkolt Racing, marking his return to full-time driving since 2009. The Bathurst 1000 was the highlight, with a top-ten qualifying shootout appearance and a late-race top-five running position, although a pit lane penalty dropped the car to twelfth. He was replaced by Lee Holdsworth at season’s end.
Holden Racing Team and Walkinshaw Andretti United Era (2015–2019)
From 2015, Perkins stepped away from full-time driving to focus on the Pirtek Enduro Cup with the Holden Racing Team, co-driving with James Courtney. The pairing won the Gold Coast 600 in 2015 and continued together for five seasons, adding further podium finishes. When the team transitioned into Walkinshaw Andretti United, Perkins claimed his first Bathurst podium in 2019, finishing third in the No. 22 Holden ZB Commodore.
Blanchard Racing Team Era (2020–Present)
Perkins has continued his role as an endurance co-driver with James Courtney at Blanchard Racing Team, campaigning the No. 7 Ford Mustang in the Pirtek Enduro Cup. His work behind the wheel has combined race-day duties with his well-known television commitments, keeping him connected to multiple categories across Australian motorsport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Perkins is widely respected for his smooth, consistent style in long-distance races, where tyre management and clean stints are essential. His experience in the Development Series and Supercars endurance rounds has made him a reliable co-driver, while his television work has sharpened his understanding of race strategy and racecraft. Working alongside experienced teammates such as James Courtney and Russell Ingall has helped him refine his feedback to engineers and crew.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments include his 2015 Gold Coast 600 victory with James Courtney, his third-place finish at the 2019 Bathurst 1000, and his Oran Park Development Series round win in 2008 after returning from his diabetes diagnosis. His selection to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025 marked a major international milestone.
Jack Perkins Career Wins
Jack Perkins has collected wins and podiums across Australian touring car racing, with his strongest results coming in endurance events and the V8 Supercar Development Series.
Supercars Championship Highlights
Perkins’ verified Supercars Championship victories include the 2015 Gold Coast 600 alongside James Courtney, representing his most significant championship-level win. He added a Bathurst 1000 podium in 2019 with third place for Walkinshaw Andretti United, and matched a personal best of eighth at Bathurst in 2013 with Scott McLaughlin. These results underline his role as a trusted endurance specialist in the category.
Other Wins and Performances
In the V8 Supercar Development Series, Perkins won a round at Oran Park in 2008 after regaining his racing licence following his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, and finished third in the 2006 standings for Perkins Engineering. He also earned the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series runner-up position in 2013 with Eggleston Motorsport despite missing the opening round.
Jack Perkins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Perkins comes from one of Australia’s most recognised racing families. His father, Larry Perkins, is a former Bathurst 1000 winner and long-time team owner of Perkins Engineering, the squad where Jack began his career. The family’s No. 11 entry became a familiar sight in Australian touring car racing, a tradition Jack carried forward during his time with Kelly Racing.
Personal Life
Outside of racing, Jack Perkins has been open about his experience with Type 1 Diabetes, becoming a spokesperson for Diabetes Australia and supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He has also built a parallel career as a television commentator, analysing events such as the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series, the Australian GT Championship, and speedway’s World Series Sprintcars.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a significant chapter in Jack Perkins’ career, highlighted by his NASCAR debut with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Originally announced for Portland International Raceway, the opportunity was brought forward to the Chicago street course event on 26 June 2025, giving Perkins a high-profile introduction to American stock car racing.
At home, Perkins continues to be a key part of Blanchard Racing Team’s Pirtek Enduro Cup campaign alongside James Courtney in the No. 7 Ford Mustang. His combination of endurance experience and continued broadcast work keeps him involved across multiple categories throughout the year.
With a NASCAR outing now added to his resume, Perkins enters the second half of 2025 with momentum. Whether in the Supercars endurance rounds or further American opportunities, his versatility and experience position him as a respected figure in both Australian and international motorsport.
