Joseph Safina (born December 8, 1967)[1] is an American race car driver. He competed in the 24 hours of Daytona, Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and IMSA GT.[2] He was the first to race a Lamborghini GTR at the 12 Hours of Sebring and drove the Florida Marlins sponsored Porsche in the 2009 IMSA SportsCar Championship.[3][4]
Early life
editSafina was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 17, he founded a telecommunications company, followed by a classic automobile restoration business. He later transitioned into equity trading.[5][6]
Career
editSafina began racing cars professionally in 1987 and is the head of Safina Racing. He has competed in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing in the top ten five times.[7][8] Safina also placed third at Homestead in the GT class and achieved international podium finishes, including the 24 Hours of Dubai.[9] He first raced a Lamborghini GTR at Sebring and drove a Marlins-sponsored Porsche in the 2009 IMSA Championship.[10]
Investing career
editSafina began his investment banking career in 1987, joining Gruntal & Co. in 1988 as a Senior Vice President.[11] He left in 1993 to co-found Nichols, Safina, Lerner & Co. Inc. (NSL), where he served as CEO.[12] Under his leadership, NSL grew to about 200 employees and was involved in around a billion dollars in financing.[13] His work with NSL was featured in R.J. Shook's book The Winner's Circle II.[14] In 1997, he sold his interests in the company and became the CEO of Safina Asset Management, a private equity investment firm. He later became Vice Chairman of Trimedia Entertainment Group Inc. and CEO of Financial Carrier Services, Secured Health and Life, and Loud.com.[15] In 2013, he sold Secured Health and Life to Health Insurance Innovations.[16]
Book and art
editSafina is the author of the cookbook Amici Del Lago. Safina is represented by New River Fine Art and several other galleries around the world.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Joseph Safina: Racedriver biography - career and success". www.speedsport-magazine.com.
- ^ "Homestead-Miami: Justin Bell, Joseph Safina preview". Motorsport.com.
- ^ "Driven To Success - 2011 Ford F-450 4x4 King Ranch". Motor Trend.
- ^ "Unprecedented Nine Aston Martins for 24 Hours of Dubai: Anamera". www.finecars.cc.
- ^ "VICI Racing enters Lamborghini for Sebring". Motorsport.com.
- ^ "Rolex 24 at Daytona entries". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
- ^ "Joseph Safina (USA) - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com.
- ^ Pankew, Dave. "Mob Mentality: Joseph Safina's 1964 Lincoln Continental". PASMAG - Performance Auto & Sound 20th Anniversary!.
- ^ "Joe Safina". www.ultimateracinghistory.com.
- ^ "Driver: Joe Safina - Driver Database". Driver Database.
- ^ "Universal Music Group invests in rap competition site". The Register.
- ^ "SG Blocks Announces Appointments to Board of Directors | SGBX Stock News". Stocktitan. 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Guns, Guts, and Glory". StreetInsider.
- ^ Harris, William (9 June 2021). "SG Blocks Appoints Joseph Safina and David Villarreal to Board of Directors". Citybiz.
- ^ "Future Forecast: Joseph Safina's Predictions for the Evolving Landscape of Investment Banking". Benzinga.
- ^ Chennault, Sam. "We Major". Miami New Times.
- ^ "1911 and Beyond: The Art of Joseph Safina-A Life of Constant Reinvention". Digital Journal.
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