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]

Safina 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]

Safina 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]

Safina 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.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, he sold Secured Health and Life to Health Insurance Innovations.^[15]

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