When Garry Rogers passed away on Wednesday at age 80, the motorsports world lost one of its most influential figures.

The Australian team owner and founder of Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) built a legacy spanning more than six decades, as a driver, engine builder, mentor, and champion of young talent.

Now, across the Pacific, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is honouring Rogers with a special tribute at their upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event in Martinsville, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a brutal prediction just days before.

As part of the remembrance, JGR’s #19 Toyota Camry driven by Chase Briscoe will carry the GRM logo on its hood — a nod to Rogers’ impact and the personal connection of one of the team’s engineers, who began his career in Australia under Rogers’ guidance.

JGR engineer James Small shared a heartfelt post on social media: “Gaz is riding with the 19 this weekend. If it weren’t for you Garry I wouldn’t sit here with a chance to win a Championship next week.”

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“You told me to never lose my passion for winning and trying to be the best every single day. There will never be another one quite like you. RIP GR.”

His story traced his path from GRM in 2007 to the NASCAR Cup Series with JGR, crediting Rogers with giving him his first shot.

Rogers’ own story is legendary. He began racing in Sports Sedans and the Australian Touring Car Championship in the 1960s and 70s, and later founded GRM, which became a powerhouse in Supercars and V8 Touring Car racing.

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His Supercars Hall of Fame induction and the outpouring of tributes from figures like Steven Richards and the Supercars CEO reflect the magnitude of his influence.

Small’s quote illuminates a theme Rogers championed: paying it forward. “You did so much for so many drivers, engineers and mechanics by giving them their first shot and believing in them,” Small wrote.

For JGR, the tribute also represents a meaningful crossover. While JGR’s history is rooted in NASCAR championships and legends like Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, the gesture speaks to the global spirit of racing. The team holds five NASCAR Cup Series titles (2000, 2002, 2005, 2015 and 2019) and a legacy of competitiveness.