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Joe Graf Jr.
Graf at a Wawa in 2023
BornJoseph A. Graf Jr.
(1998-07-12) July 12, 1998 (age 26)
Mahwah, New Jersey, U.S.
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
130 races run over 6 years
Car no., teamNo. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
2023 position23rd
Best finish22nd (2020)
First race2019 CircuitCity.com 250 (Iowa)
Last race2024 Food City 300 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 5 0
ARCA Menards Series career
39 races run over 2 years
Best finish5th (2019)
First race2018 Music City 200 (Nashville)
Last race2019 Kansas ARCA 150 (Kansas)
First win2018 Primera Plastics 200 (Berlin)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 21 0
ARCA Menards Series East career
3 races run over 3 years
Best finish44th (2019)
First race2018 New Smyrna 175 (New Smyrna)
Last race2020 General Tire 125 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of October 23, 2024.

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.

Racing career

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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NASCAR

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

Xfinity Series

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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 		ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 44th 55 [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 		22nd 422 [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 		28th 286 [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 		27th 284 [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 		23rd 395 [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
17 		MCH DAY
12 		DAR
11 		ATL GLN BRI
19 		KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 38th 93 [21]

ARCA Menards Series

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(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 [22]
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 [23]
Chevy MCH
4 		POC
10

ARCA Menards Series East

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ARCA Menards Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AMSEC Pts Ref
2018 Calabrese Motorsports 43 Toyota NSM
15 		BRI LGY SBO SBO MEM NJM THO NHA IOW GLN GTW NHA DOV 51st 29 [24]
2019 Chad Bryant Racing 22 Ford NSM BRI SBO SBO MEM NHA IOW GLN BRI
16 		GTW NHA DOV 44th 28 [25]
2020 Visconti Motorsports 74 Ford NSM TOL DOV
17 		TOL BRI FIF 45th 27 [26]

* Season still in progress

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. 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. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on September 23, 2019. 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. ^ a b 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. – 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 ARCA Racing Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "Driver Joe Graf, Jr. 2019 ARCA Menards Series results". Racing Reference. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  26. ^ "Joe Graf Jr. – 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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