Austin Green comes from a deep family lineage of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competitors. David, his father, and Jeff, his uncle, both reigned supreme in the series, hoisting the championship trophy in 1994 and 2000, respectively.
When Green linked up with the Doug Peterson-owned Peterson Racing in the Trans-Am Championship TA2 class towards the end of the 2022 season, the natural progression for the former short-track competitor was to eventually go full-time in NASCAR racing.
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“I think [Peterson] knew that NASCAR was my goal and he wanted to help out as much as possible,” Green told NASCAR.com at Texas Motor Speedway. “I think they’ve slowly fallen in love with it as much as I have.”
Before creating an alliance with Jordan Anderson Racing in 2024 for Green to run a six-race slate at road courses — which included a trio of top-10 finishes — Peterson’s focus was sports-car racing. It slowly shifted to NASCAR as Green became more competitive.
“He told me he never had aspirations of going to NASCAR, but I’ve heard him mention ever since he’s come to NASCAR that he enjoys it and has fun,” Jody Measamer, crew chief of the No. 87 Chevrolet, said. “I’m excited because this is all I’ve ever done.”
When the organization — only three full-time employees in total — decided to run the full 2026 season, it increased its resources, signing an alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Despite the small core group of team members, Peterson has a fleet of 22 chassis, and the team is prepared for what’s next on the docket.
The RCR partnership has been evident with speed, even if the results haven’t shown in the finishing column. Green led his first O’Reilly laps at Talladega Superspeedway and finished 10th, his first top 10 of 2026 and best career O’Reilly finish on an oval.
“It’s been tough, but I don’t look at the finishes as much as how we ran,” Green said. “We’ve always run pretty well in the top 15 and then get caught up in a wreck, flat tire, something happens. That has been disappointing and has put us in a hole in the points.”
With the jump to running the full circuit, Green’s greatest obstacle is the intermediate races. He had not raced at half of the tracks from the first 12 races of the season before strapping in for practice.
The best tool for Green is simulation. He also religiously watches race film, trying to pick up tricks that he can apply come race day. He has also found himself picking the brains of RCR teammates Austin Hill and Jesse Love.
“He’s learning every week,” Measamer said. “Being in the seat every week makes a huge difference. We didn’t have any bad luck the last two years. I know a lot of people don’t believe in luck, but it’s been a challenge the first part of the year. Stuff happening that shouldn’t. I think we’re getting through it.”
Throw Green’s 27.1 average finish in 2026 out the window when it comes to Saturday’s Mission 200 at The Glen (4 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). He is a force to be reckoned with at road courses, and he finished seventh at Watkins Glen International in 2025.
“My personal goals are a little different from some of the other people on the team,” Measamer said. “I think if we could qualify in the top 20 and finish in the top 20 consistently, I think it is a good goal. I do think we’re capable of running in the top 15 most weeks.
“Going into the road courses, I do have high expectations. I feel like we have a shot at a top five next week.”
In 14 prior road course starts, Green has eight top-10 finishes, including a runner-up effort to Connor Zilisch last fall at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. He also has a pair of 11th-place finishes at Watkins Glen (2024) and Sonoma Raceway.
MORE: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings | O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule
The bulk of the full-time O’Reilly drivers have competed at road courses longer than Green. Green had zero road-course experience before jumping on the TA2 tour. He believes learning the technique of racing clean and not laying the bumper to drivers has paid dividends at the NASCAR level. In TA2, penalties are enforced should there be contact.
Much of Green’s road course success, he says, comes from out-braking the competition on corner entry. He also knows that, since there has been an additional focus on road courses over the last handful of seasons, his competitors have fine-tuned their craft.
“It’s a confidence boost knowing you can go and run well,” Green said. “What is tough now is there used to be such a wide spread. Now, everyone is getting closer. At COTA, I felt like everyone was pretty tough. There are a lot more road courses than there used to be back in the day, so you have to be good and versatile.”
Even if Green doesn’t have a fantastic starting position at Watkins Glen, don’t count him out. The No. 87 team is synonymous with flipping stages to get track position and hanging on to it.
Such a strategy could be the formula for gathering even more momentum as the race — and season — continues.
“I hope we have enough speed to where we can make those decisions as they come,” Measamer said.