Joe Graf Jr.

Last updated
Joe Graf Jr.
Joe Graf Jr in 2023 at Wawa in Ramsey, New Jersey.jpg
Graf at a Wawa in 2023
BornJoseph A. Graf Jr.
(1998-07-12) July 12, 1998 (age 25)
Mahwah, New Jersey, U.S.
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
126 races run over 5 years
Car no., teamNo. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
2023 position23rd
Best finish22nd (2020)
First race 2019 CircuitCity.com 250 (Iowa)
Last race 2024 Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 (Darlington)
WinsTop tens Poles
050
Statistics current as of November 1, 2023.

Joseph A. Graf Jr. [1] (born July 12, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Contents

Racing career

At the beginning of his career, Graf drove Bandolero cars at Elko Speedway. [2] He later raced Modifieds at Stafford Speedway. [3]

ARCA Menards Series

2018 ARCA car 77 Joe Graf Jr car 2018 ARCA Madison.jpg
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, [4] 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. [5] 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. [6]

In 2023, Graf would test a car for Emerling-Gase Motorsports at Daytona. [7]

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. [8] After failing to qualify at Michigan, he made his series debut in Iowa Speedway's CircuitCity.com 250, where he finished 19th. Graf later said that he hopes to use the schedule as a lead-up to a full-time Xfinity schedule in 2020. [9] At Richmond Raceway in September, Graf blew the tire 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. [10]

On January 16, 2020, SS-Green Light Racing announced Graf would race for the team full-time in the Xfinity Series that year, replacing Gray Gaulding in the team's No. 08 car. [11] He finished 22nd in points with a best finish of 13th on three occasions. [12]

Graf moved to the team's No. 07 in 2021. [12] Prior to the start of the season, Graf hired Buffalo Bills player Antonio Williams as an advisor; the two had befriended each other through a mutual acquaintance. [13] At the conclusion of the Martinsville race, a fight broke out on pit road between Graf and Gray Gaulding after Gaulding wrecked Graf on lap 177. [14] He missed the Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas due to a strained left knee and was replaced by Ross Chastain; Graf had run the weekend's practice but ranked 40th due to the injury affecting his braking ability. [15]

In 2022, Graf would return to SS-Green Light Racing in the No. 07 and the No. 08. After failing to qualify the No. 08 in the Production Alliance Group 300, he replaced Timmy Hill in RSS Racing's No. 38 and finished 15th.

Graf Jr. at Auto Club Speedway in 2023 Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Auto Club 2023.jpg
Graf Jr. at Auto Club Speedway in 2023

In 2023, Graf ran a full-time schedule with two different teams: 27 races in the Nos. 28, 38 and No. 39 Ford Mustangs for RSS Racing and six races in the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. Graf would finish 7th in the season opener at Daytona in the No. 39. Graf would follow this up with an 11th place finish at Auto Club Speedway and 15th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the No. 19. Graf, while driving in the JGR No. 19 later in the season, finished 9th at Kansas and 10th at Homestead-Miami, respectively.

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. [5]

Graf attends New York University. [8]

He is not related to Klaus Graf who is also a racing driver.

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
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233NXSCPtsRef
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		 ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 44th55 [16]
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		 IRC
26		 KEN
13		 KEN
22		 TEX
21		 KAN
28		 ROA
25		 DRC
26		 DOV
18		 DOV
21		 DAY
37		 DAR
23		 RCH
19		 RCH
27		 BRI
27		 LVS
27		 TAL
31		 ROV
15		 KAN
32		 TEX
22		 MAR
21		 PHO
27		22nd422 [17]
2021 07 DAY
11		 DRC
20		 HOM
27		 LVS
18		 PHO
25		 ATL
29		 MAR
38		 TAL
33		 DAR
37		 DOV
29		 COA CLT
DNQ		 MOH
30		 TEX
31		 POC
32		 ROA ATL
25		 NHA
24		 GLN
30		 IRC MCH
38		 DAY
35		 DAR
19		 RCH
31		 BRI
17		 LVS
40		 TAL
10		 TEX
26		 KAN
28		 MAR
15		28th286 [18]
SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing 17 NSH
34		 ROV
28		 PHO
35
2022 SS-Green Light Racing 07 Ford DAY
29		 LVS
38		 PHO
27		 ATL
23		 RCH
29		 MAR
26		 TAL
8		 DOV
28		 DAR
36		 TEX
23		 CLT
34		 PIR
21		 NSH
37		 ATL
30		 NHA
12		 POC IRC MCH
23		 GLN DAY
37		 DAR
33		 KAN BRI
23		 TEX
18		 TAL
22		 ROV
27		 LVS HOM
24		 MAR
27		 PHO
36		27th284 [19]
08 CAL
DNQ		 COA
34
RSS Racing 38 Ford CAL
15
B. J. McLeod Motorsports 5 Ford ROA
36
2023 RSS Racing 39 Ford DAY
7		23rd395 [20]
Joe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota CAL
11		 LVS
15		 RCH
37		 NHA
29		 KAN
9		 HOM
10
RSS Racing 38 Ford PHO
31		 ATL
25		 COA
31		 MAR
37		 TAL
20		 DOV
22		 DAR
32		 CLT
17		 PIR
23		 SON
31		 NSH
21		 CSC
33		 ATL
21		 POC
17		 ROA
23		 MCH
27		 IRC
35		 GLN
22		 DAY
34		 DAR
26		 BRI
26		 TEX
36		 ROV
31		 LVS
37		 MAR
29
28 PHO
31
2024 Joe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO -*-*

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
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920AMSCPtsRef
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		8th4000 [21]
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		5th4610 [22]
Chevy MCH
4		 POC
10

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314AMSECPtsRef
2018 Calabrese Motorsports 43 Toyota NSM
15		 BRI LGY SBO SBO MEM NJM THO NHA IOW GLN GTW NHA DOV 51st29 [23]
2019 Chad Bryant Racing 22 Ford NSM BRI SBO SBO MEM NHA IOW GLN BRI
16		 GTW NHA DOV 44th28 [24]
2020 Visconti Motorsports 74 Ford NSM TOL DOV
17		 TOL BRI FIF 45th27 [25]

* Season still in progress

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References

  1. ↑ "Team Event Rosters – Texas Motor Speedway – Saturday, October 24, 2020" (PDF). NASCAR . Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Radebaugh, Don (March 28, 2018). "Joe Graf Jr. making ARCA debut at Nashville with Chad Bryant Racing". ARCA Menards Series . Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Rowe, John (May 4, 2018). "Mahwah resident Joe Graf Jr. climbing auto racing ladder". The Record . Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  6. ↑ Niehaus, Matt (August 25, 2018). "Joe Graf Jr. Steals ARCA Win At Berlin". Apex Off. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  7. ↑ Christie, Toby (2023-01-10). "60 Drivers on Official Entry List For ARCA Pre-Race Practice at Daytona". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  8. 1 2 Utter, Jim (April 26, 2019). "Joe Graf Jr. to make NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with RCR". Motorsport.com . Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  9. ↑ Wolkin, Joseph (23 August 2019). "NYU Student Joe Graf Jr. Splits Time Between The Racetrack And The Classroom". Long Island Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  10. ↑ Catanzareti, Zach (September 20, 2019). "John Hunter Nemechek angry at Joe Graf Jr. following Richmond race". Kickin The Tires. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  11. ↑ Utter, Jim (January 16, 2020). "Joe Graf Jr. moves fulltime to NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020". Motorsport.com . Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Rutherford, Kevin (February 5, 2021). "Joe Graf Jr. Moving to No. 07 in Xfinity in 2021". Frontstretch. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  13. ↑ Utter, Jim (February 10, 2021). "NFL's Antonio Williams to invest in NASCAR driver Joe Graf Jr". Motorsport Network . Motorsport Network . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Gray Gaulding, Joe Graf Jr. Fight Following Xfinity Race at Martinsville". Jayski's Silly Season Site . NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ross Chastain Subbing for Joe Graf Jr. in Xfinity Race at COTA". Jayski's Silly Season Site . May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Driver Joe Graf, Jr. 2019 ARCA Menards Series results". Racing Reference. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  23. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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