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. 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.
| 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 Statistics
| Races | 674 | Average Finish | 28.29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 4 | Average Start | 24.2 |
| Top 5 Finishes | 18 | Total Laps Led | 1,247 |
| Top 10 Finishes | 62 | Total Laps | 155,010 |
| Top 20 Finishes | 189 | % of Laps | 76.5% |
| Poles | 10 | DNF’s | 234 |
Xfinity Series Statistics
| Races | 453 | Average Finish | 19.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 16 | Average Start | 18.6 |
| Top 5 Finishes | 74 | Total Laps Led | 2,906 |
| Top 10 Finishes | 126 | Total Laps | 74,773 |
Craftsman Truck Series
| Races | 70 | Average Finish | 21.2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 0 | Average Start | 17.8 |
| Top 5 Finishes | 4 | Total Laps Led | 49 |
| Top 10 Finishes | 19 | Total Laps | 5,402 |
