Joe Graf Jr.

Joe A. Graf Jr. (born July 12, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 08 Chevrolet Camaro for SS-Green Light Racing. He also works as a communications intern for Richard Childress Racing, a team he drove for part-time in the Xfinity Series in 2019.

Joe Graf Jr.
Graf at 2018 Madison ARCA race
Born (1998-07-12) July 12, 1998
Mahwah, New Jersey
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
22 races run over 2 years
Car no., teamNo. 08 (SS-Green Light Racing)
2019 position44th
Best finish44th (2019)
First race2019 CircuitCity.com 250 (Iowa)
Last race2020 UNOH 188 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of August 15, 2020.

Racing career

At the beginning of his career, Graf drove Bandolero cars at Elko Speedway.[1] He later raced Modifieds at Stafford Speedway.[2]

ARCA Menards Series
2018 ARCA car

Graf ran the whole season in 2018 save for the season-opening race at Daytona. The deal originally started out as a six-race schedule,[3] but eventually expanded to 19 races. In his third race at Talladega, Graf raced on a foot he had recently broken and finished second to Zane Smith in the closest finish in series history.[4] At Berlin Raceway in August, Graf spun Chandler Smith on the would-be final lap and then, after losing the lead to Zane Smith on the ensuing restart, pushed Smith up the track in turn four on the final lap to claim his first checkered flag in ARCA competition.[5]

Xfinity Series

In April 2019, Graf joined Richard Childress Racing's driver development program, which enabled him to run five NASCAR Xfinity Series races for the team starting with Michigan International Speedway's LTi Printing 250. He also became a marketing and communications intern for the team.[6] After failing to qualify at Michigan, he made his series debut in Iowa Speedway's CircuitCity.com 250, where he finished 19th.[7] Graf later said that he hopes to use the schedule as a lead-up to a full-time Xfinity schedule in 2020.[8] At Richmond Raceway in September, Graf drew the ire of John Hunter Nemechek when Graf moved Nemechek, a driver competing in the NASCAR playoffs, on the last lap. In retaliation, Nemechek spun Graf's car in turn one after the checkered flag.[9]

On January 16, 2020, SS-Green Light Racing announced Graf would race for the team full-time for the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, replacing Gray Gaulding in the team's No. 08 car.[10]

Personal life

Raised in Mahwah, New Jersey, Graf attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School and played high school sports for two years before choosing to focus on his driving.[4]

Graf attends New York University.[6]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2019 Richard Childress Racing 21 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH
DNQ		 IOW
19		 CHI DAY
23		 KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH RCH
14		 CLT DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 44th 55 [7]
Kaulig Racing 10 Chevy BRI
DNQ		 ROA DAR IND LVS
2020 SS-Green Light Racing 08 Chevy DAY
36		 LVS
20		 CAL
31		 PHO
31		 DAR
19		 CLT
19		 BRI
13		 ATL
26		 HOM
16		 HOM
13		 TAL
34		 POC
35		 IND
26		 KEN
13		 KEN
22		 TEX
21		 KAN
28		 ROA
25		 DAY
26		 DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH RCH BRI LVS TAL CLT KAN TEX MAR PHO -* -* [11]

K&N Pro Series East
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2018 Calabrese Motorsports 43 Toyota NSM
15		 BRI LGY SBO SBO MEM NJM THO NHA IOW GLN GTW NHA DOV 51st 29 [12]
2019 Chad Bryant Racing 22 Ford NSM BRI SBO SBO MEM NHA IOW GLN BRI
16		 GTW NHA DOV 44th 28 [13]

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2018 Chad Bryant Racing 77 Ford DAY NSH
16		 SLM
11		 TAL
2		 TOL
3		 CLT
18		 POC
7		 MCH
5		 MAD
12		 GTW
8		 CHI
13		 IOW
5		 ELK
3		 POC
26		 ISF
16		 BLN
1		 DSF
11		 SLM
11		 IRP
13		 KAN
21		 8th 4000 [14]
2019 DAY
21		 FIF
11		 SLM
9		 TAL
10		 NSH
6		 TOL
17		 CLT
12		 POC
8		 MAD
9		 GTW
11		 CHI
11		 ELK
7		 IOW
9		 ISF
10		 DSF
11		 SLM
6		 IRP
10		 KAN
9		 5th 4610 [15]
Chevy MCH
4		 POC
10

References
  1. Sansevere, Bob (June 7, 2019). "Minnesota driver Joe Graf Jr. balances classes at NYU, first start on NASCAR Xfinity Series". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  2. Courchesne, Shawn (April 26, 2019). "Former Stafford SK Light Mod Regular Joe Graf Jr. Joins Richard Childress Racing In Unique Role". RaceDayCT. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  3. Radebaugh, Don (March 28, 2018). "Joe Graf Jr. making ARCA debut at Nashville with Chad Bryant Racing". ARCA Menards Series. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  4. Rowe, John (May 4, 2018). "Mahwah resident Joe Graf Jr. climbing auto racing ladder". The Record. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  5. Niehaus, Matt (August 25, 2018). "Joe Graf Jr. Steals ARCA Win At Berlin". Apex Off. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  6. Utter, Jim (April 26, 2019). "Joe Graf Jr. to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with RCR". Motorsport.com. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  7. "Joe Graf Jr. – 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  8. Wolkin, Joseph. "NYU Student Joe Graf Jr. Splits Time Between The Racetrack And The Classroom". Long Island Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  9. Catanzareti, Zach (September 20, 2019). "John Hunter Nemechek angry at Joe Graf Jr. following Richmond race". Kickin The Tires. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  10. Utter, Jim (January 16, 2020). "Joe Graf Jr. moves fulltime to NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020". Motorsport.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  11. "Joe Graf Jr. – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  12. "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  13. "Joe Graf Jr. – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  14. "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  15. "Driver Joe Graf, Jr. 2019 ARCA Menards Series results". Racing Reference. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
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