Joe Graf, Jr. is done for the night at Martinsville Speedway, after an accident inside the final 150 laps of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250, which heavily damaged his No. 38 Ford Mustang.
The accident started at the entrance to the first corner when contact appeared to be made between Graf and Ellis, which hooked both cars towards the outside wall, severely damaging the No. 38.
Heavy damage for Joe Graf Jr. and Ryan Ellis. Here's what happened:#NASCARonFS1 | @MartinsvilleSwy https://t.co/5MElh2LM66 pic.twitter.com/Aulia5nDbw
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 16, 2023
Graf, who is splitting the season between RSS Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, took a pretty big impact to the outside wall, with his rear tires coming off the ground. Meanwhile, the damage the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro sustained was reasonably minor.
The 24-year-old driver was forced to retire from the race, earning a finish of 37th, while Ellis and the No. 43 team fell three laps down repairing the damage, but was able to stay in the race.