JOE NEMECHEK

BIO

NEMCO Motorsports No. 87 Chevy
Joe Nemechek began his racing career in motocross at age 13 taking home more than 300 trophies in six years. Making the transition to stockcars in 1986, he has posted victories in every series in which he has raced along the way.

Early achievements include All-Pro Late Model Rookie of the Year in 1989 and NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year in 1990. He led his family-owned team to the NASCAR Busch Series Championship in 1992 and was named Most Popular Driver in 1992 and 1993.

Nemechek made the jump to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in 1994. Since 1997, he has collected nine pole awards and numerous front row starting spots lending credence to his claim upon the nickname “Front Row Joe.”
His victory in the 1999 Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, however, stood out as the first major milestone of a promising career. Win number two came in the late stages of the 2001 season when Nemechek dominated the Pop Secret 400 at North Carolina Motor Speedway.

In 2003, Nemechek took over the wheel of the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Only 11 races into the season, he claimed victory in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Later that year, Nemechek was named as driver of the MB2 Motorsports/U.S. Army entry for the 2004 season.

In October of 2004, Kansas Speedway set the stage for Nemechek’s most successful career weekend. Front Row Joe reconfirmed his name as he picked up the Bud Pole award for the NEXTEL Cup race, but he didn’t stop there. He went on to sweep the weekend with wins in the Busch Series race as well as the NEXTEL Cup Series race putting him in the records books as the first driver to pick up the triple crown.

Through his NEXTEL Cup success, Nemechek has continued his NEMCO Motorsports Busch Series operation with which he competes on a limited-schedule basis. Known throughout the sport as one of the premier operations, Nemechek himself boasts 16 wins, 18 poles, 73 top-fives and 120 top-ten finishes to date.

Building on the success of the team, the NEMCO operation expanded in 2001 with the addition of a second Busch Series entry. Since then, many drivers have achieved success in NEMCO cars including Kyle Busch, Ron Fellows, David Reutimann and Greg Biffle. In the 2003 season alone, Nemechek and Biffle’s combined efforts led to five wins and seven poles, with an additional pole added by Reutimann.

Late in the 2004 season, the NEMCO team endured major personnel changes leading to the addition of crew chief Gary Putnam. In only his third outing, Putnam led the team to the memorable Kansas victory reinforcing the team’s presence in the series. Continuing to rebuild throughout the 2005 season, Nemechek grabbed the season-opening pole at Daytona and posted top-ten performances at Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dover and Watkins Glen.

With his US Army, NEXTEL Cup ride settled for the next two seasons, Nemechek now looks for a partner to join his NEMCO Motorsports team to support a full Busch Series season in 2006.

HISTORY

Date of Birth		September 26, 1963	Hometown	Lakeland, FL
Height		5’ 9”	Children Son	John Hunter
Wife		Andrea	Children Daughters	Blair & Kennedy
Busch Series Highlights			NEXTEL Cup Series Highlights
2005	Picked up his 18th Busch Pole award overall – his fifth at Daytona.  Top finishes include a fourth-place at Las Vegas and top tens at Phoenix (1), Dover (1), Daytona (2), Watkins Glen and Homestead. Having dominated the field in several events in 2005, Nemechek should have been in the thick of the chase, but due to late-race malfunctions and various woes he would close out the year 16th in the championship standings.  Highlights include a third at Pocono (1) and top-tens at Martinsville, Phoenix, Michigan (1, 2), Watkins Glen, California (2) and Talladega (2).
2004	Scored a victory in the Mr. Goodcents 300 at Kansas Speedway – his 16th overall in the NASCAR Busch Series.  The win was his first with crew chief, Gary Putnam. Picked up his eighth Bud Pole Award at Kansas Speedway – then went on to complete the sweep winning the Cup race one day after his Busch Series win.  It was the first win for the US Army team. Finished 19th in the season-ending points race after a strong late-season run.  Nemechek recorded a win, two poles, three top fives and six top 10’s in the final 10 races of the season.
2003	Collected three wins – Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway and the MBNA 200 at Dover Int’l. Speedway.  Also captured three pole awards – the Koolerz 300 at Daytona, the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega and the MBNA 200 at Dover. Claimed third Winston Cup victory in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond Int’l. Raceway on May 3 in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy. Named to drive the MB2 US Army No. 01 Winston Cup car in 2004 as well as the last four races of 2003.  Scored a 10th-place finish in first outing with the team at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
2002	Won the Inaugural Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 at Daytona International in July.  Claimed two Bud Pole awards, both at Daytona. Following the closing of the Haas Carter operation, Nemechek was named to drive the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports UAW-Delphi Chevy for the remainder of the 2002 season. Top Winston Cup finish came at Atlanta in October with a second-place in the UAW Chevy.
2001	Claimed first victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Aaron’s 312 on March 10.  Continued success at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his third win in five seasons at the 1.5-mile oval. Dominated the Pop Secret 400 at North Carolina Motor Speedway to claim his second career Winston Cup Series win on November 4, leading 196 of 393 laps. Named to drive the Haas Carter Motorsports Kmart Ford in the 2002 season.
2000	Posted six top-fives in 14 starts, including a win in the Touchstone Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, a second place finish in the Napa Auto Parts 300 at Daytona International Speedway and a third in the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Top Winston Cup finish came at Loudon in July with a 2nd place run.  Finished a career high 15th in the point standings.
1999	Won the season finale Hot Wheels.com 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Logged six top-five finishes in 12 starts, including a second-place run at Talladega Superspeedway. Picked up a car owner win in the Craftsman Truck Series race as well as a second place finish in both the Busch and Winston Cup Series events at Watkins Glen International with driver Ron Fellows. Celebrated first Winston Cup Series victory in the New Hampshire 300 on September 19.
1998	Led 105 of 120 laps en route to his sixth career NASCAR Busch Series victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 300 at the Daytona International Speedway. Also won the Touchstone 300 from the pole position at Talladega Superspeedway. Kicked off his career as a car owner with driver Ron Fellows taking the No. 87 to victory in the Busch Series race at Watkins Glen International. Top run in the Winston Cup Series came at Texas Motor Speedway with a fourth place finish after starting on the outside front row.
1997	Recorded fourth and fifth career wins respectively in the CarQuest Auto Parts 300 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Jiffy Lube 300 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Logged pole positions at Watkins Glen International, Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway for the All Pro Bumper to Bumper 300.  Winston Cup Series highlights included first career pole at the California Speedway and later another pole at Pocono in July.
1996	Posted a pole position in the NASCAR Busch Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. Entered first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International.  Started from the rear of the 31-truck field and finished second. Named to drive the No. 42 Team SABCO entry during the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup racing season.
1995	Logged a pole position in the inaugural Busch Series race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Embarked on the first of two years of his career as driver/owner of the NEMCO Motorsports Winston Cup Series operation.  Top performance came at Dover in September with a fourth place finish.
1994	Posted a Busch Series win at Richmond International Raceway.    In his rookie year, logged best NASCAR Winston Cup finish of third place in the Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Pocono Raceway.
1993	Named Busch Series Most Popular Driver for the second consecutive season. Logged three pole positions:  Orange County Speedway, New Hampshire International Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Entered first NASCAR Winston Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway July 11
1992	Captured the NASCAR Busch Series Championship and named Busch Series Most Popular Driver.  Logged two Busch Series wins at New Hampshire International Speedway and Indianapolis Raceway Park.  Also captured one pole position at Orange Co. Speedway in Rougemont, NC.
1991	In only his second full season in the NASCAR Busch Series, logged 16 top tens in 31 starts.
1990	Formed NEMCO Motorsports in Mooresville, NC and ran first full year in the Busch Series. Named NASCAR Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year.
1989	All-Pro Late Model Stock Car Challenge Series Champion and Rookie-of-the-Year.
1988	United Stock Car Alliance Series Champion and Rookie-of-the-Year.
1987	Lakeland Interstate Speedway Rookie-of-the-Year.