NEMCO Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in historic racing and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series. The team is owned by driver Joe Nemechek and his family. NEMCO Motorsports has had success, winning the 1992 Busch Series championship. The team previously competed in Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series competition.
NASCAR Cup Series
Car No. 87 history
NEMCO made its Winston Cup debut during the 1993 season at the Slick 50 300, where Nemechek started fifteenth and finished 36th in the No. 87 car. NEMCO ran two more races with Nemechek that year, at Watkins Glen and Michigan, where he finished 21st and 37th, respectively. NEMCO did not race in the series again until the 1995 season, when Nemechek moved the operation up to Cup full-time. With sponsorship from Burger King, Nemechek posted four top-tens and finished 28th in points. The next season, he had just two top-tens and dropped to 34th in points. After he signed with SABCO Racing, Nemechek abandoned the team's Cup program, and sold the equipment to the SABCO team.
NEMCO returned to the Winston Cup Series in 1999, fielding the No. 87 Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen. Fellows started seventh, led three laps, and finished in second place. Fellows ran at Watkins Glen again the following year, but suffered a blown engine and finished 43rd. During the 2001 season, Fellows began running Watkins Glen as well the series' other road course at Sears Point International Raceway. He led the most laps, but finished 38th after wrecking at Sears Point, and 42nd at Watkins Glen after suffering axle problems. Fellows' last race for NEMCO came in 2002 at Sears Point, where he started 19th and finished 25th. Fellows left NEMCO after the 2002 series to drive for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated in 2003.
NEMCO did not field a Cup car again until 2005 at Sears Point, when it leased a car to Christine Marie Motorsports to be driven by Chris Cook. He started and finished 28th. The team also attempted Watkins Glen that year, but failed to qualify.
NEMCO returned to race full-time in the 2009 season with Joe Nemechek following his departure from Furniture Row Racing. The car was leased to Scott Speed and the Red Bull Racing Team for two races when Speed did not qualify.
In 2010, Nemechek ran a full season, but only managed to finish one race, due to funding issues. Nemechek secured sponsorship through England Stove Works for the Daytona 500 and succeeded in qualifying, but wrecked during the race. For the fall Talladega race, sponsorship was provided by HostGator.com. They also sponsored the car in the second Texas race, but engine failure took the car out early.
For 2011, the team is back full-time yet again. Nemechek qualified for the Daytona 500, being the fastest Toyota in the field. An early accident took the car out of the 500 early though. Sponsorship was provided by AM FM Energy, and DAB Constructors for Daytona Speedweeks. Despite starting and parking most of the season, Nemechek managed to qualify for all 36 races.
For 2012, the team plans to remain full-time. Except for the Daytona 500 and Watkins Glen, the team was a Start and Park ride to fund the No. 87 Nationwide Team. For 2013, NEMCO and Jay Robinson Racing have partnered up for the No. 87. The No. 87 qualified for the 2013 Daytona 500 but were knocked out due to an engine failure. They currently have sponsorship from Maddie's Place Rocks, with no plans to start and park. Royal Teak Collections has stepped up as primary sponsorship. The same plans are in place for 2014. The No. 87 is part of the January test session in Daytona. On January 31, 2014, Michael Waltrip Racing announced a partnership with Robinson and Nat Hardwick to run the No. 66 full-time as Identity Ventures Racing. NEMCO-JRR moved most of their Cup cars to Identity's shop, owned by Robinson, with Nemechek as primary driver for the new team. NEMCO-JRR still entered the No. 87 part-time when Nemechek was not scheduled to drive for Identity.
The No. 87, with Nemechek driving, failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 and the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas, while Morgan Shepherd finished 43rd at Phoenix. The team did not enter again until Talladega, where Nemechek once again failed to qualify. Timmy Hill ran in the No. 87 at New Hampshire. Mike Wallace was initially entered in the No. 87 in the fall race at Talladega, but the number was changed mid-week to the 49, the number Robinson used for many years. The car still used the owner points and attempts from the No. 87 in 2014. Wallace ultimately qualified in 23rd place. NEMCO Motorsports has no affiliation with Identity Ventures Racing or Jay Robinson Racing after Nemechek split from the team and Nat Hardwick, the team's co-owner, was facing embezzlement charges involving his companies Morris-Hardwick-Schneider and Landcastle Title. Should the No. 87 return, the team will probably run Chevrolets like in the Trucks. The No. 87 announced plans to return to the Cup Series in 2015, but withdrew for the Daytona 500 and hasn't run a race since.
2014 driver rotation 87DriverroundsJoe NemechekMorgan ShepherdTimmy Hill
Car No. 87 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts 1993 Joe Nemechek 87 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA36 POC TAL GLN21 MCH37 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL N/A N/A 1995 Joe Nemechek 87 Chevy DAY42 CAR29 RCH32 ATL16 DAR33 BRIDNQ NWS20 MAR14 TALDNQ SON37 CLT20 DOV10 POC12 MCH28 DAY38 NHA19 POC9 TAL23 IND27 GLN31 MCH32 BRI16 DAR25 RCH26 DOV4 MAR30 NWS32 CLT22 CAR9 PHO18 ATL14 N/A 2742 1996 DAY39 CAR9 RCH34 ATL17 DAR31 BRI31 NWS36 MAR26 TAL13 SON41 CLT25 DOV25 POC21 MCH36 DAY18 NHA35 POC34 TAL15 IND27 GLN8 MCH27 BRI34 DARDNQ RCH39 DOV25 MAR27 NWS26 CLTDNQ CAR24 PHO25 ATL34 N/A 2391 1999 Ron Fellows 87 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX BRI MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN2 MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL N/A 175 2000 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN43 MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL 65th 34 2001 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON38 DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN42 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MAR TAL PHO CAR HOM ATL NHA 57th 96 2002 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON25 DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO HOM 63rd 88 2005 Chris Cook 87 Chevy DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON28 DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLNDNQ MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 63rd 79 2009 Joe Nemechek 87 Toyota DAYDNQ CAL43 LVS41 ATL39 BRI41 MAR41 TEXDNQ PHO41 TAL14 RCH40 DARQL† CLT37 DOV38 POC41 MCH42 SONQL† NHA39 DAY41 CHI41 IND43 POC39 GLNDNQ MCH39 BRI41 ATL42 RCH35 NHA40 DOV41 KAN42 CAL39 CLT43 MAR38 TAL43 TEX42 PHO40 HOMDNQ 39th 1608 Scott Speed DAR SON 2010 Joe Nemechek DAY43 CAL40 LVS41 ATL38 BRI43 MAR39 PHO38 TEX40 TAL42 RCH43 DARDNQ DOV38 CLT39 POC43 MCH37 SON40 NHA39 DAY41 CHI43 IND40 POC40 GLN39 MCH43 BRIDNQ ATL38 RCH42 NHA40 DOV41 KANDNQ CAL37 CLTDNQ MAR41 TAL27 TEX43 PHODNQ HOM41 41st 1510 2011 DAY39 PHO43 LVS42 BRI41 CAL42 MAR43 TEX39 TAL41 RCH42 DAR42 DOV39 CLT41 KAN43 POC40 MCH40 SON40 DAY30 KEN39 NHA41 IND38 POC41 GLN40 MCH41 BRI40 ATL40 RCH41 CHI40 NHA36 DOV39 KAN41 CLT43 TAL41 MAR41 TEX42 PHO41 HOM40 42nd 134 2012 DAY28 PHO40 LVS41 BRI40 CALDNQ MAR39 TEXDNQ KAN41 RCH41 TAL41 DAR40 CLT41 DOV39 POC37 MCH40 SON43 KEN40 DAY41 NHA38 INDDNQ POC36 GLN29 MCH36 BRI39 ATL43 RCH38 CHI40 NHA39 DOV39 TAL41 CLTDNQ KAN40 MAR41 TEX40 PHO39 HOMDNQ 41st 154 2013 DAY43 PHO31 LVS40 BRI29 CAL32 MAR34 TEX35 KANDNQ RCH39 TAL39 DAR31 CLT41 DOV31 POC42 MCH36 KEN37 DAY27 NHA25 IND41 POC37 MCH34 BRI43 ATL40 RCH39 CHI31 NHA35 DOV39 KAN41 CLT39 TAL42 MAR33 TEX36 PHO38 HOM35 40th 265 Tomy Drissi SON GLN 2014 Joe Nemechek DAYDNQ LVSDNQ BRI CAL MAR TEX DAR RCH TALDNQ KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY 50th 10 Morgan Shepherd PHO43 Timmy Hill NHA41 IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 2015 Joe Nemechek Chevy DAYWth ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM N/A N/A
Car No. 97 history A second car, the No. 97, was entered in the 2010 Daytona 500 as a safety net for Joe Nemechek, and was driven by Jeff Fuller, but did not qualify for the race. Fuller parked the car about 5 laps into his Duel race. However, Fuller qualified for the October event in Talladega. Nemechek stated that if both cars qualified (which they did) the No. 97 would start and park, and with the winnings from that car, and the sponsorship from HostGator.com, the No. 87 would be able to run the entire race.
In 2011, Kevin Conway ran the Bud Shootout in the No. 97 with longtime sponsor ExtenZe, but was wrecked early on. He also attempted the Daytona 500, but failed to qualify. Conway did qualify for the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, but only ran one lap and then retired from the race. Conway again qualified for the Coke Zero 400, but also again ran one lap and then retired from the race. Conway then attempted the Good Sam RV Club 500 in Talladega and made the race. However like in the previous races, Conway pulled the car in after completing one lap.
Bill Elliott has taken over the No. 97 car in 2012 with sponsorship from AM/FM Energy for the 2012 Daytona 500. Neither car is locked in the race and Elliott failed to qualify. Elliott successfully qualified for the Talladega spring race, and was in and out of the garage for most of the race. Timmy Hill qualified the car at the fall Talladega race, starting and parking the machine.
Car No. 97 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts 2010 Jeff Fuller 97 Toyota DAYDNQ CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAL CLT MAR TAL43 TEX PHO HOM 56th 56 2011 Kevin Conway DAYDNQ PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX TAL43 RCH DAR DOV CLT KAN POC MCH SON DAY43 KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL43 MAR TEX PHO HOM 56th 3 2012 Bill Elliott DAYDNQ PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL37 DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV 54th 9 Timmy Hill TAL42 CLT KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM
Xfinity Series
Car No. 7 history NEMCO debuted its No. 7 car in 2001. Co-owned with Ed Evans and run under the Evans Motorsports name, it was driven by Randy LaJoie and sponsored by Kleenex. The car won its first race at Daytona International Speedway. LaJoie won another race that season at Memphis Motorsports Park and finished twelfth in points. LaJoie didn't win in 2002, but won a pole at Gateway International Raceway and posted fourteen top-tens on his way to an eleventh-place points finish. Following the 2003 GNC Live Well 250, LaJoie and NEMCO parted ways. Nemechek, Todd Bodine, Hank Parker Jr., and Mike Skinner all took over for one race apiece before Greg Biffle was hired for the rest of the season, winning twice (Which turned out to be his only wins with Chevy) and garnering three pole positions.
In 2004, the No. 7 only ran twice, once with Nemechek and once with Todd Szegedy. Szegedy's qualifying run at Chicagoland was famously interrupted by a giant inflatable Tropicana orange, an advertisement at the track. Szegedy was granted a second qualifying run and timed in a surprising 12th.
The No. 7 car ran more races in 2005 although it was still part-time and suffered from a lack of reliable equipment in comparison to the primary No. 87. Jeff Fuller was the primary driver, with Kim Crosby and others filling out the schedule.
Car No. 7 results