| Joe Nemechek | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Nemechek in 2019 | |||||||
| Born | Joseph Frank Nemechek III September 26, 1963 Lakeland, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Achievements | 1989 All PRO Super Series Champion 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Champion | ||||||
| Awards | 1988 USAR Rookie of the Year 1990 Busch Series Rookie of the Year 1992, 1993 Busch Series Most Popular Driver | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 674 races run over 24 years | |||||||
| 2019 position | 57th | ||||||
| Best finish | 15th (2000) | ||||||
| First race | 1993 Slick 50 300 (New Hampshire) | ||||||
| Last race | 2019 Ford EcoBoost 400 (Homestead) | ||||||
| First win | 1999 Dura Lube/Kmart 300 (New Hampshire) | ||||||
| Last win | 2004 Banquet 400 (Kansas) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 453 races run over 29 years | |||||||
| 2020 position | 82nd | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1992) | ||||||
| First race | 1989 AC-Delco 500 (Rockingham) | ||||||
| Last race | 2020 Ag-Pro 300 (Talladega) | ||||||
| First win | 1992 Kroger 200 (IRP) | ||||||
| Last win | 2004 Mr. Goodcents 300 (Kansas) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
| 70 races run over 10 years | |||||||
| 2021 position | 119th | ||||||
| Best finish | 19th (2014) | ||||||
| First race | 1996 Parts America 150 (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
| Last race | 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 250 (Talladega) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of December 31, 2021. | |||||||
Joseph Frank Nemechek III (born September 26, 1963) is an American professional stock car racing driver who last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 24 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Nemechek has made the second most national series starts in NASCAR history. He claimed the record in 2019 after he passed seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty, but was surpassed by Kevin Harvick in 2021.[1] Nemechek won the 1992 NASCAR Busch Series championship.
He is the older brother of racing driver John Nemechek. He is the father of John Hunter Nemechek, who competes full-time in the Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club. He is nicknamed "Front-Row Joe", which was coined by former teammate Wally Dallenbach for his tendency in the late 1990s to be a regular contender for a front-row starting position.[2]
- ^ Page, Scott (November 16, 2019). "Joe Nemechek sets all-time starts record". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Best NASCAR nickname tournament". NASCAR.com. March 10, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
Teammate Wally Dallenbach gave Nemechek the moniker 'Front Row Joe' after the veteran driver had a tendency to find his way to the front row of the starting grid.