Joe Graf Jr. will return to SS Green Light Racing for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, as the organization will make a switch the Ford as their manufacturer for the upcoming year.
“I am excited to be joining the Ford Performance group this season,” SSGL team owner Bobby Dotter said. “I know they have a proven winning product, and I am looking forward to working with them and the other Ford teams.”
According to a press release from SSGL, the team will also forge an alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2022 and they will utilize engines from Roush-Yates.
“I have had a great working relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing for a number of years on other various racing projects, so it’s great to see this relationship come full circle of this magnitude,” Dotter explained. “Having that prior relationship with SHR, I have seen what Ford does for its team and having an alliance with them should speed up our learning curve and result in better on track performances next season.”
For Graf, 23, this is a huge opportunity to take his career to the next level.
“I am so stoked for the new opportunities in 2022,” said Graf Jr. “Our new relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ford will allow us to continue to grow and improve as a team and hopefully give us the opportunity to showcase our ability in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at our highest level yet.”
According to the release from the team, Joe Williams will return as crew chief for the driver from New Jersey in 2022.
Additional details for Graf’s entry will be announced at a later date.
Stewart-Haas Racing is ready to get to work with their new technical partner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
“We are thrilled to be part of this new relationship with SS Green Light Racing,” offered Stewart-Haas Racing executive Joe Custer in the team release. “The team is very eager to raise their competitiveness to the next level and with this technical arrangement, they are going to be in a great position to accomplish all of their goals and more next season, as well as position themselves for future growth.”
SHR will also bring some NASCAR Cup Series experience to the team with the driver roster of their second car in 2022. As part of the deal, Cole Custer will join the team for at least four events and Chase Briscoe will also join SS Green Light Racing for one race this season.
“The addition of Cole and Chase driving a limited schedule for SS GreenLight Racing will also be an added benefit to help evaluate the team’s transition,” Custer said. The team’s technical support with SHR should allow SS GreenLight Racing the opportunity to showcase a performance peak in the series on a consistent basis.”
The new NASCAR Xfinity Series season gets underway at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2022.
