Jake Griffin Explained

Jake Griffin
Birth Name:Jacob D. Griffin
Birth Date:16 November 1998
Birth Place:Quincy, Illinois
Total Truck Races:9
Years In Truck:4
Prev Truck Pos:53rd
Prev Truck Year:2021
Best Truck Pos:39th (2016)
First Truck Race:2015 Kroger 250 (Martinsville)
Last Truck Race:2021 Toyota 200 (Gateway)
Truck Wins:0
Truck Top Tens:1
Truck Poles:0
Updated:December 30, 2021

Jacob D. Griffin (born November 16, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 34 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing. He has also raced in the ARCA Menards Series in the past. All of Griffin's starts in both series have come on dirt tracks and short tracks.

Racing career

Early years

Racing in his early years at a Quincy, Illinois track, Griffin earned the name "Fireball" and raced late models and modifieds.[1]

NASCAR and ARCA

Griffin broke into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2015 with MB Motorsports. The deal came about through a mutual friendship between team owner Mike Mittler and Jake's father Danny Griffin, which was formed by working in NASCAR together in 2004.[2] Griffin dropped out of the Kroger 200 with handling problems to finish 26th.[3] Six races later, he crashed out of the race at Iowa Speedway to finish 27th. Attempting the Mudsummer Classic with Mike Affarano Motorsports, he failed to qualify after finishing fourth in the last chance qualifier.

In 2016, Griffin ran at Iowa again with MB, finishing one lap down in 21st. He retired with engine problems at Gateway Motorsports Park, and signed on with Red Horse Racing to run at Eldora Speedway. Qualifying 11th by way of heat race, Griffin made up seven spots during the race to finish fourth. Also in 2016, Griffin dipped his toe into the ARCA Racing Series, making a single start in the No. 15 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports.[4] Running the SuperChevyStores.com 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack, he would qualify third and finish ninth in the race.

After not making any NASCAR and ARCA starts in both 2017 and 2018, Griffin returned to the Truck Series for the 2019 Eldora Dirt Derby, driving the No. 03 for Mike Affarano Motorsports for the second time.[5]

Griffin did not make any NASCAR and ARCA starts in 2020, either. However, he did return to the Truck Series again in 2021, as it was announced in January of that year that he would be driving both of the series' new dirt races at Bristol and Knoxville for Reaume Brothers Racing.[6]

Personal life

Griffin works closely with the organization People Against Distracted Driving after meeting the founder online.[7]

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.)

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223PtsRef
2015MB Motorsports63ChevyDAYATLMAR
KANCLTDOVTEXGTWIOW
KEN56th35[8]
Mike Affarano Motorsports03ChevyELD
POCMCHBRIMSPCHINHALVSTALMARTEXPHOHOM
2016MB Motorsports63ChevyDAYATLMARKANDOVCLTTEXIOW
GTW
KENBRI
MCHMSPCHINHALVSTALMARTEXPHOHOM39th44[9]
Red Horse Racing11ToyotaELD
POC
2019Mike Affarano Motorsports03ChevyDAYATLLVSMARTEXDOVKANCLTTEXIOWGTWCHIKENPOCELD
MCHBRIMSPLVSTALMARPHOHOM85th11[10]
2021Reaume Brothers Racing34ChevyDAYDAYLVSATLBRI
RCHKANDARCOACLTTEXNSHPOCKNX
GLN53rd36[11]
Niece Motorsports45ChevyGTW
DARBRILVSTALMARPHO

Season still in progress
Ineligible for series points

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steve . Eighinger . Jake Griffin only racing mods at Bullring . Herald-Whig . March 19, 2013 . December 1, 2017.
  2. Web site: Ashley . McCubbin . Jake Griffin to Make NASCAR Debut at Martinsville . Popular Speed . WordPress . March 20, 2015 . December 1, 2017.
  3. Web site: 16-Year Old Jake Griffin Set To Make NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut . Catchfence . September 27, 2016.
  4. Web site: The young faces of ARCA...add Jake Griffin in VMS car for dirt miles . September 27, 2016.
  5. Web site: Amanda . Brooks . Jake Griffin to return to Eldora with Affarano Motorsports . . NASCAR Digital Media, LLC . July 2, 2019.
  6. Web site: Toby . Christie . Jake Griffin to Run NASCAR Truck Series Dirt Events For Reaume Brothers Racing . TobyChristie.com . January 8, 2021 . January 9, 2021.
  7. Web site: Jake Griffin - A Teen Driver Profile: From NASCAR to Speaking Out Against Distracted Driving . September 13, 2016 . September 27, 2016.
  8. Web site: Jake Griffin – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 27, 2016.
  9. Web site: Jake Griffin – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 9, 2021.
  10. Web site: Jake Griffin – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 9, 2021.
  11. Web site: Jake Griffin – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 30, 2021.
  12. Web site: Jake Griffin – 2016 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 27, 2016.