Austin Green is a second-generation racer that is dipping his toes into NASCAR racing in recent years.
He is the son of David Green, the 1994 champion of what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but unlike his father (and for that matter, his uncles Jeff and Mark), he’s been road racing on a regular basis.
Recently at Watkins Glen International, Austin sat down with Frontstretch‘s Phil Allaway to talk about his short time in NASCAR, his ARCA Menards Series victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the TA2 Series.
Phil Allaway, Frontstretch: Your time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is rather interesting. It’s only been 17 months since you made your debut at Circuit of the Americas, where you finished seventh. How did the deal originally come together for you to make your NASCAR debut?
Austin Green: Running with Doug Peterson Racing on the Trans-Am side. At the end of 2023, Doug said that he wanted to go Xfinity racing. That’s kind of how we started out.
We started with the road courses and did a couple of short tracks. Obviously had some good success there last year. Now, we’re doing a little bit more. All of the road courses and a couple of ovals.
We got linked up with Jordan Anderson [Racing] and got a little bit of an alliance going.
Allaway: You’ve been racing for one of the most established teams in Trans-Am, along with drivers like Rafa Matos. What’s it been like racing with those guys and learning from them?
Green: Rafa had been with the team for a long time when I joined. I always leaned on him for coaching.
I thought that he was a great teammate to have. We could pick each other’s brains. I learned a lot from him and enjoyed the Trans-Am stuff. We ran a lot [at Watkins Glen] with TA2, and I got a lot of experience there.
The Xfinity stuff is great. [The cars] drive a lot different, but I think I like this a lot better.
Allaway: Can you describe what racing is like in the TA2 Series?
Green: It’s a great stepping ground [series]. It’s almost like at the crossroads if you want to go the NASCAR route or the IMSA route.
You look at Brent Crews, [Connor] Zilisch, Connor Mosack, we all kind of raced together in TA2. Now, we’re in the NASCAR stuff.
I think it’s a great avenue to get experience in a heavy stock car on road courses. The cars are a lot different, but at the end of the day, it’s still a racecar. I think it’s great to learn and get laps.
Allaway: My understanding is that TA2 cars are more or less built on similar chassis to late models. Have you had the chance to do any oval late model racing, and if so, could you actually take some of your TA2 knowledge and apply it?
Green: I grew up running the Summer Shootout in Legends cars and late models for a little bit. Having since done the TA2 stuff, I’ve gone back and run a couple of late model [races]. I don’t know if they’re similar or the same, but they’re all racecars at the end of the day.
Allaway: You’ve only made two ARCA starts in your career. One was five years ago, and the other was at Charlotte back in May with the Pinnacle Racing Group. Take us back to that day. What were your emotions on that afternoon?
Green: That was definitely a special one for sure. To race at home, in front of your home crowd, your whole family and everyone. All the guys at PRG were great to work with. Overplay Games for coming on board as well.
We brought a wicked-fast car. I was still learning a bit in practice and qualifying. Just needed more laps. I’d never been on a big track. Mile-and-a-half stuff is still fairly new to me in these type of cars.
All the cards fell in favor. It’s definitely one to remember for sure.
Allaway: How would you describe the competition that day?
Green: It was tough for sure. You had [William] Sawalich in the No. 18 and [Grant] Enfinger in the No. 97, I believe. They were quick and kept me on my toes, but with the clear air, whoever was out front would obviously have the upper hand with the lapped traffic and trying to navigate that.
I thought it was a great race with [PRG]. Hopefully, I can do some more in the future.
Allaway: Your father is a former champion in the Xfinity Series back in 1994. However, most of the races you’ve done have been at tracks he never competed on. How has he been able to help out?
Green: He has definitely helped out a lot. I think I have more road course experience than he does.
He’s very helpful all around, especially on the oval stuff. At Charlotte, going there for the first time, he told me about the bumps [in turn 4] and certain things. Him and my two uncles, Mark and Jeff, I think they’re great tools to have.
Allaway: What’s your schedule look like for the remainder of the season?
Green: All the road courses left, Portland and the [Charlotte Motor Speedway] ROVAL. We also have Bristol and [Las] Vegas.
Allaway: You mentioned that you’ve done late models and the Summer Shootout on Charlotte’s quarter-mile. When you first stepped into the Xfinity Series on an oval, where did you feel that you were at as an oval racer?
Green: I don’t know. I grew up racing ovals. Road courses were still fairly new to me. I didn’t start doing that until the TA2 stuff. But a late model is very different from an Xfinity car. Basically started at ground zero and made the most of it.
Allaway: I feel like it would have been the same as when you started in TA2, having gone into that from Legends cars. That’s a far cry from a 2,500-pound TA2 car. How long did it take you to come to grips with the TA2 car?
Green: I don’t know. It doesn’t matter what you’re in; you always just need more laps. For the car and for the track.
Allaway: TA2 has a variety of tracks. It’s mostly natural terrain road courses, but they’ve raced on rovals. Where does that car race best?
Green: My favorite was always Road America. Love that track.
I think the schedule was diverse. We had street courses and other tracks. Each one was so different, but the most fun I had on a track was at Road America.
Allaway: Do you wish that the Xfinity Series was still racing [at Road America]?
Green: It would be nice.
Allaway: Have you considered trying IMSA, Michelin Pilot Challenge, one-make series?
Green: It’d be cool to run for sure, but right now, I’m focusing on the Xfinity and NASCAR stuff.
Allaway: Have you set any plans in motion for 2026?
Green: We’ve talked about it. I think we’re just in that phase for now.
Allaway: What’s it been like working with Jordan Anderson?
Green: It’s been great. I think he’s obviously a great leader and [mentor], but he also became a good friend as well. I think that’s very important.
Allaway: This is a multi-car team. You’ve got Jeb Burton and Blaine Perkins as teammates. What has it been like to work with them in your limited races?
Green: They’re really good to lean on for the oval stuff, and even the road course stuff as well. I think we just help each other with everything. I think it’s a great partnership and alliance. They’re good teammates to have. Just need to keep building that relationship.
Allaway: Do you have any more ARCA races on your schedule this year?
Green: I do not.
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.