Ray Black, Jr. Returns to SS Green Light Racing

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

After a part-time stint at B.J. McLeod Motorsports last season, Xfinity Series driver Ray Black, Jr. will return on a full-time basis and reuniting with Bobby Dotter’s SS Green Light Racing.

Black was announced as Gray Gaulding’s teammate Friday and will pilot the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro with both Isoken and ScubaLife being his primary sponsors.

The Palm Coast, Florida native said when the offer was given to return to the team he ran for in 2016-17, he couldn’t pass it up.

“When the opportunity arose for me to return to SS Greenlight Racing, I knew it was something I couldn’t pass up,” said Black. “Bobby Dotter has done so much for me over my career, so it definitely feels like a homecoming for sure.”

In 65 career starts, Black’s three best finishes took place in his first stint with Dotter’s team, finishing 12th at the July race at Daytona in 2017, 14th at the Bristol night race in 2016, and 15th at Road America that same season.

Dotter said he’s excited to have the 27-year-old back into the two-car stable.

“We are all really excited to have Ray back in our stable for 2019,” said Dotter.  “Ray has been part of our team for several years, so it’s exciting to have him back running full time in my No. 07 Camaro. I am confident that with Ray’s experience, we are going to have a really positive showing with this team.”

Black’s crew chief will be Jason Miller, further establishing his homecoming with the race team. Miller described Black as a driver that’s straight forward on what he wants in his car.

“I’m excited to be working with Ray again,” mentioned Miller.  “We have worked together since the beginning of his career and have a lot of history together. Ray is one of those guys who is always going to get you the very most out of the car. It makes my job easier when you have someone like Ray, who can tell you exactly what he needs the car to do. It’s going to be a fun year for sure.”

The 300-mile season opener at Daytona on Feb. 16 will mark Black’s first national start since Texas last November. Black scored one of three top-20 finishes in 2018 that afternoon, finishing 19th.

Additionally, Black ran one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona last July, when he brought Rick Ware Racing a 16th-place result after starting 39th.