Mahwah Native To Race Full Time In NASCAR Xfinity Series

MAHWAH, NJ — A Mahwah racing driver was added to the lineup for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season for RSS Racing, and will pilot a Ford Mustang in at least 28 events for the family-owned race team.

“I am very appreciative to be welcomed into the RSS Racing family,” said Joe Graf, Jr., who will race his fourth season in the Xfinity Series this year.

“I am opening a new chapter in my Xfinity Series career in 2023," the Mahwah native said, "and I am determined to make it my best yet.

Graf, Jr., will also run a partial Xfinity schedule of five races for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra.

“Running five races with JGR is a fantastic opportunity,” Graf, Jr., said, “I think I can learn a lot from JGR and showcase my skills I’ve been growing in the series in the past three years. 2023 is shaping up to be a great year and I’m pumped to get started with the No. 19 group.”

The 24-year-old will join RSS Racing for his first Xfinity race on Feb. 18 at the Beef. It's What's for Dinner. 300. at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and then make his JGR debut on Feb. 25 at Auto Club Speedway in California.

Graf, Jr., will move to RSS Racing full time, after parting ways with SS-Green Light Racing last year and effectively ending a three-year relationship with the organization.

In his move to join the Sugar Hill, Georgia, team, he will extend partnerships with sponsors Bucked Up Energy Drink, CoverSeal, G-Coin, Gtechniq and JACOB Companies, and enter into a new primary marking partnership with Lefcourt Brothers Racing, a group of auto enthusiasts.

“Without the support of my longtime partners this season would not have been possible,” Graf, Jr. said. “I look forward to the opportunity to race near the front in their colors with RSS Racing in 2023.”

Graf, Jr. picked up a career-best eighth in 2022 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. He also won and scored several top-10 finishes in 2018 in the Automobile Racing Club of America Menards Series.

“We saw the improvement of Joe’s on-track performance during the course of the 2022 Xfinity Series season and we believe he can continue that progression with RSS Racing this season,” team spokesperson Rod Sieg said.

“Joe brings a welcomed enthusiasm with a determined focus to help make 2023 one of the best seasons yet for RSS Racing," Sieg added.