Joey Gase Bio
Joseph Robert Gase (born February 8, 1993) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the Nos. 35 and 53 Chevrolet Camaro SS cars for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, while also running part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Garage 66 and the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for NY Racing Team. Over the course of his career, Gase has built a reputation as a determined underfunded racer and a tireless advocate for organ donation awareness.
Early Life and Background
Joey Gase was born on February 8, 1993, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the United States. He grew up in the Cedar Rapids area and attended Xavier High School, graduating in 2011. Gase began his racing journey at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in 2001, competing in the track’s junior classes. He developed his skills at short tracks across the Midwest, quickly establishing himself as a young talent with a serious approach to the sport.
In 2007, Gase became the youngest driver to win the track modified B championship at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, and two years later, in 2009, he became the youngest driver to win the late model championship at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Those early accomplishments signaled his readiness to move up to NASCAR’s national touring series. Throughout his career, Gase has remained closely tied to his Iowa roots.
Gase’s mother, Mary Jo, passed away from a brain aneurysm when he was eighteen years old. Her death had a profound impact on him, both personally and professionally. Following her passing, Gase became a passionate advocate for organ donation awareness, turning a personal tragedy into a mission that has shaped much of his public life. His efforts to honor her memory and promote organ donation have been recognized at the highest levels of NASCAR.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR’s national series, Gase ran a limited American Speed Association schedule starting in 2008. He then moved on to selected ARCA Racing Series, USAR Pro Cup Series, and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races in 2010 and 2011, gaining valuable experience in stock cars. Those regional and developmental campaigns provided the foundation for his eventual arrival in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Gase made his first start in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series at Iowa Speedway in August 2011, driving the No. 39 Ford for Go Green Racing. He posted five starts during the second half of the season, with a best finish of twentieth and an average finish of 25th. Although his results were modest, the experience helped him secure a more substantial opportunity the following year.
Joey Gase Career
Early Career (2011-2013)
Gase began his Nationwide Series career in 2011 with Go Green Racing, running five late-season races. In January 2012, the team announced that he would drive the No. 39 Ford for the full 2012 Nationwide Series season, competing for rookie of the year honors as the lead driver in a planned two-car operation. A lack of sponsorship reduced his schedule, and he split time with several teams throughout the year.
In December 2012, Gase announced that he would drive for Jimmy Means Racing full-time in the Nationwide Series for 2013. He continued to split time between Means and Go Green Racing due to ongoing funding challenges, but the experience allowed him to refine his skills and build relationships that would help sustain his career in NASCAR’s upper divisions.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2014-2019)
Gase earned his best career Xfinity Series finish on May 2, 2015, when he placed fifth in the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. That same year, he was replaced by Dexter Bean at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after suffering food poisoning prior to the race, a vivid reminder of the unpredictable nature of the racing life. In 2015, Gase was also awarded the inaugural Comcast Community Champion Award at the joint Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series banquet, recognizing his efforts to promote organ donation in honor of his mother, whose donated organs helped 66 people after her passing.
In January 2018, it was announced that Gase would drive the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro owned by Go Green Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time for the 2018 season. In 2019, Gase joined MBM Motorsports to run the full Xfinity schedule in the team’s No. 35 Toyota Supra, giving him a full season in a competitive car for the first time in his career.
Cup Series Debut (2014-Present)
On August 27, 2014, Gase announced that he would make his Sprint Cup Series debut in the No. 32 Ford with Go FAS Racing in the MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. He returned to the Cup Series in 2015 with Go FAS Racing at Richmond, but the 2017 season brought new opportunities, including a ride with BK Racing in the No. 23 Toyota Camry for three races beginning at the Daytona 500, plus additional starts with Premium Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing.
In 2019, Gase joined the MBM Motorsports Cup program, driving the No. 66 Toyota part-time starting with the Daytona 500, and added a second MBM car, the No. 46, for the Digital Ally 400 at Kansas. He then began racing full-time in the Cup Series in 2020 with Rick Ware Racing, although he did not compete for Cup points. Gase’s career has also included dramatic moments, such as a frightening airborne crash at the 2021 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when his No. 15 RWR car lost a tire and slammed into the wall. He was transported to the hospital and released a few hours later. On August 20, 2024, it was revealed that Gase would return to the Cup Series for the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400, driving the No. 44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team, where he tied the team’s best finish with a twentieth-place run.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gase has built much of his reputation on the drafting tracks of NASCAR, particularly Daytona and Talladega, where his fifth-place finish at Talladega in 2015 highlighted his ability to navigate superspeedway traffic. Working with smaller, resource-limited teams, he has developed a strong sense of race craft and an aggressive approach to restarts. His ownership role with Joey Gase Motorsports has also given him a strategic understanding of the business side of racing.
Notable Races and Milestones
His fifth-place run in the 2015 Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega stands as his best Xfinity Series finish, and the 2015 Comcast Community Champion Award represents one of his most meaningful off-track milestones. The 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 with NY Racing Team produced a twentieth-place finish that tied the team’s best-ever Cup Series result. His advocacy work following his mother’s passing has become a defining chapter of his public career, with her donated organs helping 66 people.
Joey Gase Career Wins
Joey Gase’s career in NASCAR’s top three national series has not yet produced a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His most celebrated achievement came in 2015, when he was named the inaugural Comcast Community Champion Award winner for his organ donation awareness efforts. He has recorded several top-ten and top-fifteen finishes across his various Cup and Xfinity starts, with his standout result being a fifth-place run at Talladega in 2015.
Xfinity Series Highlights
Across his Xfinity Series career, Gase has produced a best finish of fifth at Talladega in 2015 while running part-time and full-time schedules for teams including Go Green Racing, Jimmy Means Racing, and MBM Motorsports. His most recent Xfinity Series activity has come with Joey Gase Motorsports, his own team, where he has continued to compete in the Nos. 35 and 53 cars.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Gase made his debut at Atlanta, driving a start-and-park truck for Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing, and later joined Copp Motorsports for a single Talladega race in 2018 with Sparks Energy sponsorship. Earlier in his career, he captured the track modified B championship at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway in 2007 and the late model championship at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in 2009, becoming the youngest driver to win each title.
Joey Gase Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joey Gase was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by his mother, Mary Jo, whose passing from a brain aneurysm in 2011 became a defining event in his life. Her decision to be an organ donor helped 66 people after her death, and Gase has since channeled his personal experience into a national platform for organ donation awareness. Racing has long been a family pursuit for Gase, with short-track competition providing the foundation for his professional path.
Personal Life
Gase is married to his wife, Caitlin Gase. The couple has two sons, Carson and Jace. He continues to live and work out of the Cedar Rapids area, balancing his time between his NASCAR commitments and his ongoing efforts to promote organ donation registration across the country.
2025 Season Performance
Joey Gase is not competing full-time in any of NASCAR’s three national series in 2025. He has indicated his focus on Joey Gase Motorsports, his Xfinity Series team fielding the Nos. 35 and 53 Chevrolet Camaro SS cars. His most recent verified national-series start came in the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he piloted the No. 44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team to a twentieth-place finish.
As both driver and owner, Gase is balancing limited seat time with the responsibilities of running his own race operation, an increasingly common path for veteran drivers in the modern NASCAR landscape. Cup Series opportunities have been sporadic, with past stints at Go FAS Racing, BK Racing, Premium Motorsports, MBM Motorsports, and Rick Ware Racing giving him a broad base of experience to draw upon. His part-time schedule allows him to remain active in the garage while pursuing sponsorship for additional starts.
Looking ahead, Gase is expected to continue selecting races in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series as opportunities arise, while keeping Joey Gase Motorsports positioned to develop talent and compete on a limited budget. The 2025 outlook remains event-by-event rather than a points campaign, with Gase focused on delivering competitive results whenever he hits the track.