Joe Bessey
Encyclopedia
Joe Bessey is a former NASCAR
owner/driver. He won one career Busch Series
race before heading back to the Busch Grand National North Series in 2001, where he continues to field teams. In his driving career in that series in the mid-1990s, when he won 21 races and won two championships. Bessey is also a businessman, having started his own trucking companies in his 20's.
debut in 1988 at the Pennsylvania 300 at Nazareth Speedway
in the #9 Pontiac
. Despite an eighth place starting spot, he finished last after a crash on the opening lap. He made five other races in 1988, his best finish being 19th at Dover
. He also finished his remaining five races.
Bessey made six more starts in 1989 and finished in the top-20 in four of the six races, with 14th at Dover, a 17th at Nazareth and had a pair of 20ths. He also had a top-10 start at Richmond. However, he did not finish his other two starts, but finished 45th in points. The next season, he only started four races, finishing just one of them.
Bessey made 8 starts in 1991. Driving his #9 Pontiacs and the #64 Pontiacs, Bessey finished six of his eight starts, and managed his career best finish with a 14th place at Daytona International Speedway
. He also had three top-10 starts, the best being at Nazareth.
Bessey made nine starts in 1992. Bessey garnered an 11th place run at Rockingham and then his first top-10 at Richmond. He also closed the year with three straight top-21 finishes. He was 42nd in the points, his highest showing to that date.
Bessey planned to run the full season in 1993. He made all but three races en route to a 17th place points finish. Bessey had a best finish of 3rd at Rockingham and added on a 4th at Rougement
. He also had an eighth and a pair of tenths. Bessey also earned his best career start of 4th at the inaugural race at Talladega
.
With his success in 1993, Bessey focused more in the Busch North Series, but did manage to make 11 Busch Starts in 1994
, three of which resulted in top-10s. Driving his #97 Bellsouth
Chevy, Bessey finished 6th at Atlanta
and 10th at Dover and Charlotte
. He also had three top-10 starts.
Bessey returned for 1995. He had two top-10s: a 9th at Rockingham and a 10th at Nazareth. (driving for Jimmy Spencer
) However, Bessey continued to struggle in finishing races, only running at the end of half of his starts.
Bessey, however, still went on and in 1996, he drove the #9 Delco Remy America Chevy in twelve races. For the first time since 1992, Bessey did not finish in the top-10 in any race, but did have five top-19 finishes. At Rockingham, Bessey made his debut for Power Team, a sponsorship deal resulted in a two-year deal to go Busch Racing full-time.
Bessey returned full-time 1997, driving the #6 Power Team Chevy. Bessey picked up his first win at the MBNA 200, despite being ill that day. He also had four other top-10 finishes, the best being a 6th at South Boston. He also earned his first career pole in the inaugural event at Gateway
, and finished 18th in points, the best run of his career.
Bessey did not win a race in 1998, but had four top-10s, the best being a 5th at Nazareth. He had a solid weekend at New Hampshire, where he won the pole and led 107 laps. However, in a late race fight for the lead with Buckshot Jones
, Bessey got wrecked while Jones won the race. Bessey had 14 top-10 finishes to finish 18th in standings.
With Bessey going full-time Cup racing in 1999, Bessey only made a few starts that season. His best run was a 17th at Nazareth drivng for Geoffrey Bodine and an 18th at Dover (back in his #6). He did not finish his other 3 start.
Bessey and the #6 only returned for one race in 2000. He started 26th at New Hampshire, but got crashed on the first lap and finished 43rd.
Bessey made three starts in 2001, with a 17th at Daytona, 43rd at Talladega and a 22nd at New Hampshire (where he started in the 8th position)
Bessey made his last two starts: a 25th at New Hampshire and an 18th at Nazareth. Afterwards, Bessey moved back full-time to Busch North Series as an owner, where he continues to this day.
. Bodine also earned a third place finish late in the year at Martinsville Speedway
. Also, Bodine was able to qualify in every race in 1999, earning the team a 27th-place finish.
Bodine, however, was injured in the season opening Craftsman Truck Series
race of 2000, and Bessey was sent scrambling for a driver. The team missed the Daytona 500
, but Bessey's new driver, Ted Musgrave
made the next five races. After a best finish of 16th, Musgrave left and Bessey moved onto Dick Trickle
, who made three starts for Bessey, before Bodine returned to the team at Richmond
. Bodine had a solid run of 13th in his return, but the team continued to struggle to qualify. Bodine only made ten of the next fourteen races. Even with a best finish of 12th, Bessey released Bodine after a 41st at Richmond.
Bessey then made his Cup debut the next week at NHIS
. Bessey barely made it in with a 42nd place starting position at his home track. He finished 27th.
Bessey then used drivers Trickle and Rich Bickle
to finish out the year. However, the team began to struggle to qualifying with Bessey's team only making a handful of the final eight races.
After a failed attempt to get Hermie Sadler
to drive his car with The Rock
sponsoring in 2001, Bessey closed down his Cup team, and ran selected Busch races after that.
in 1995, where he started 5th and finished 4th in the #30 Taylor Togs Dodge. His other start in 1995 resulted in a 38th at Phoenix.
Bessey's lone run in 1996 resulted in a 4th place start at NHIS
. Once again, Bessey ran a solid race at his home track and drove the #9 Chevy to a 6th place finish.
His sole race in 1997 came at Phoenix, driving for A.J. Foyt. There he started 19th, but struggled home to a 35th after his engine blew.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
owner/driver. He won one career Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
race before heading back to the Busch Grand National North Series in 2001, where he continues to field teams. In his driving career in that series in the mid-1990s, when he won 21 races and won two championships. Bessey is also a businessman, having started his own trucking companies in his 20's.
Busch Series Career
Bessey made his Busch SeriesBusch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
debut in 1988 at the Pennsylvania 300 at Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history....
in the #9 Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
. Despite an eighth place starting spot, he finished last after a crash on the opening lap. He made five other races in 1988, his best finish being 19th at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
. He also finished his remaining five races.
Bessey made six more starts in 1989 and finished in the top-20 in four of the six races, with 14th at Dover, a 17th at Nazareth and had a pair of 20ths. He also had a top-10 start at Richmond. However, he did not finish his other two starts, but finished 45th in points. The next season, he only started four races, finishing just one of them.
Bessey made 8 starts in 1991. Driving his #9 Pontiacs and the #64 Pontiacs, Bessey finished six of his eight starts, and managed his career best finish with a 14th place at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
. He also had three top-10 starts, the best being at Nazareth.
Bessey made nine starts in 1992. Bessey garnered an 11th place run at Rockingham and then his first top-10 at Richmond. He also closed the year with three straight top-21 finishes. He was 42nd in the points, his highest showing to that date.
Bessey planned to run the full season in 1993. He made all but three races en route to a 17th place points finish. Bessey had a best finish of 3rd at Rockingham and added on a 4th at Rougement
Orange County Speedway
Orange County Speedway is a 3/8 mile asphalt oval in Orange County, near Rougemont, North Carolina. It first opened in 1966 as 1/4 mile and 5/8 mile dirt ovals, which operated until 1967 and 1973, respectively...
. He also had an eighth and a pair of tenths. Bessey also earned his best career start of 4th at the inaugural race at Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
.
With his success in 1993, Bessey focused more in the Busch North Series, but did manage to make 11 Busch Starts in 1994
1994 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 19 and ended October 22. David Green of Labonte Motorsports won the championship.See also: 1994 in NASCAR-1994 Team chart:List of full-time teams at the start of 1994.- Goody's 300 :...
, three of which resulted in top-10s. Driving his #97 Bellsouth
BellSouth
BellSouth Corporation is an American telecommunications holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth was one of the seven original Regional Bell Operating Companies after the U.S...
Chevy, Bessey finished 6th at Atlanta
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
and 10th at Dover and Charlotte
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. He also had three top-10 starts.
Bessey returned for 1995. He had two top-10s: a 9th at Rockingham and a 10th at Nazareth. (driving for Jimmy Spencer
Jimmy Spencer
Jimmy Spencer is a current television commentator, and a former NASCAR driver. He formerly hosted the NASCAR inspired talk show, “What’s the Deal?”, on SPEED. He is the former co-host, with John Roberts and Kenny Wallace, of the SPEED's pre-race and post-race NASCAR shows NASCAR RaceDay and...
) However, Bessey continued to struggle in finishing races, only running at the end of half of his starts.
Bessey, however, still went on and in 1996, he drove the #9 Delco Remy America Chevy in twelve races. For the first time since 1992, Bessey did not finish in the top-10 in any race, but did have five top-19 finishes. At Rockingham, Bessey made his debut for Power Team, a sponsorship deal resulted in a two-year deal to go Busch Racing full-time.
Bessey returned full-time 1997, driving the #6 Power Team Chevy. Bessey picked up his first win at the MBNA 200, despite being ill that day. He also had four other top-10 finishes, the best being a 6th at South Boston. He also earned his first career pole in the inaugural event at Gateway
Gateway International Raceway
Gateway Motorsports Park is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just east of St. Louis, Missouri. After being shuttered by former owner Dover Motorsports Inc., on Nov. 3, 2010, it was announced Sept. 8, 2011, that the facility would re-open and host an NHRA Full Throttle Series event Oct. 5-7,...
, and finished 18th in points, the best run of his career.
Bessey did not win a race in 1998, but had four top-10s, the best being a 5th at Nazareth. He had a solid weekend at New Hampshire, where he won the pole and led 107 laps. However, in a late race fight for the lead with Buckshot Jones
Buckshot Jones
Roy "Buckshot" Jones , is an auto racing driver who has competed in NASCAR and sprint cars. He most recently ran in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series....
, Bessey got wrecked while Jones won the race. Bessey had 14 top-10 finishes to finish 18th in standings.
With Bessey going full-time Cup racing in 1999, Bessey only made a few starts that season. His best run was a 17th at Nazareth drivng for Geoffrey Bodine and an 18th at Dover (back in his #6). He did not finish his other 3 start.
Bessey and the #6 only returned for one race in 2000. He started 26th at New Hampshire, but got crashed on the first lap and finished 43rd.
Bessey made three starts in 2001, with a 17th at Daytona, 43rd at Talladega and a 22nd at New Hampshire (where he started in the 8th position)
Bessey made his last two starts: a 25th at New Hampshire and an 18th at Nazareth. Afterwards, Bessey moved back full-time to Busch North Series as an owner, where he continues to this day.
Winston Cup Series Team
Bessey moved his operation up to Winston Cup in 1999, fielding the #60 Power Team Chevy driven by Geoffrey Bodine. Bodine was eighth in the second race of the year at RockinghamNorth Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
. Bodine also earned a third place finish late in the year at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. Also, Bodine was able to qualify in every race in 1999, earning the team a 27th-place finish.
Bodine, however, was injured in the season opening Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
race of 2000, and Bessey was sent scrambling for a driver. The team missed the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, but Bessey's new driver, Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
made the next five races. After a best finish of 16th, Musgrave left and Bessey moved onto Dick Trickle
Dick Trickle
Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
, who made three starts for Bessey, before Bodine returned to the team at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
. Bodine had a solid run of 13th in his return, but the team continued to struggle to qualify. Bodine only made ten of the next fourteen races. Even with a best finish of 12th, Bessey released Bodine after a 41st at Richmond.
Bessey then made his Cup debut the next week at NHIS
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. Bessey barely made it in with a 42nd place starting position at his home track. He finished 27th.
Bessey then used drivers Trickle and Rich Bickle
Rich Bickle
Richard "Rich" Bickle, Jr. is a journeyman NASCAR driver. Bickle, who has never completed a full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has a long history in short track racing.-Early career:...
to finish out the year. However, the team began to struggle to qualifying with Bessey's team only making a handful of the final eight races.
After a failed attempt to get Hermie Sadler
Hermie Sadler
Herman Marion Sadler III is an American race car driver/announcer and professional wrestling promoter from Emporia, Virginia. He is also an advocate for autism research, as his daughter Hailie Dru, was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001...
to drive his car with The Rock
Don Muraco
Donald Muraco , better known by his ring name "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler...
sponsoring in 2001, Bessey closed down his Cup team, and ran selected Busch races after that.
Craftsman Truck Series
Bessey has also made four career starts in the Truck series. His best run came in his debut at PhoenixPhoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
in 1995, where he started 5th and finished 4th in the #30 Taylor Togs Dodge. His other start in 1995 resulted in a 38th at Phoenix.
Bessey's lone run in 1996 resulted in a 4th place start at NHIS
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
. Once again, Bessey ran a solid race at his home track and drove the #9 Chevy to a 6th place finish.
His sole race in 1997 came at Phoenix, driving for A.J. Foyt. There he started 19th, but struggled home to a 35th after his engine blew.