RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE By Lee Spencer -- Crew chief Scott Graves will have a new challenge in 2019 when he joins the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing team and driver Ryan Newman.

After a three-year absence while working at Joe Gibbs Racing, primarily with Daniel Suarez, Graves rejoins Roush Fenway Racing where he started his motorsports career in 1996.

The Clifton Springs, N.Y., native graduated from Texas Tech University in 1994 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He joined RFR two years later as the team engineer on the No. 99 Ford truck team. Over the next six years, Graves used his engineering skills in all three series before Jack Roush promoted him to crew chief.

Graves worked with Carl Edwards and Trevor Bayne in NXS before taking over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s team full-time at the end of the 2012 Sprint Cup season. Graves led both Chris Buescher and Suarez to Xfinity Series titles and six of his eight career wins as a crew chief. The last two seasons, Graves oversaw the No.19 JGR Cup team.

“We are very pleased to bring Scott back to the fold,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “Scott is an exceptional talent atop the pit box and he has done an outstanding job throughout his career - with multiple championship campaigns attesting to that.

“He brings a strong engineering background to the table and we are excited about the opportunity to pair him with Ryan Newman going into the 2019 season.”

Graves will oversee Newman’s transition to RFR. Newman, 40, also holds a degree in mechanical engineering. He is in his 17th full season on the NASCAR Cup tour and has 18 career wins. In 2014, the South Bend, Ind., native finished a career-high second in the point standings to Kevin Harvick.

Roush debuted in 1988 with Mark Martin behind the wheel. Over the last 31 seasons, the company has won two Cup titles, five Xfinity Series titles and one truck championship. RFR has 324 victories in NASCAR’s top three tours combined.

Graves begins his new venture on January 1.