Joe Cooksey

Joe Cooksey Bio

Joe Cooksey (born June 11, 1966) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Centralia, Illinois. He last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 86 Ford for Clubb Racing Inc. Cooksey has been a consistent presence in ARCA competition since his debut in 1996, accumulating 57 top-ten finishes and one pole position throughout his career. He has also made select appearances in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Early Life and Background

Joe Cooksey was born on June 11, 1966, in Centralia, Illinois. Growing up in the Midwest racing hotbed, Cooksey developed an interest in stock car racing at a young age. His path to professional competition followed a traditional route through local and regional racing circuits before reaching the national level.

Path to NASCAR

Cooksey made his ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series debut in 1996 at Salem Speedway, driving the No. 41 Chevrolet that he owned. Despite a 22nd-place finish due to a rear end issue in his debut race, he showed promise with four top-ten finishes in his rookie season, including a career-best sixth at Indianapolis Raceway Park. This strong start established him as a competitive driver in the ARCA ranks.

Joe Cooksey Career

Early Career (1996-1999)

In 1997, Cooksey expanded his schedule to twelve races, primarily in the No. 51 Chevrolet, earning four additional top-ten finishes with a best result of seventh at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack. He finished twelfth in the overall standings that year. The 1998 season saw further improvement as he ran eighteen of twenty-two races, recording nine top-ten finishes including a third-place result at Winchester Speedway.

Cooksey ran his first full ARCA schedule in 1999 with his self-owned No. 51 entry. At Daytona International Speedway, he was involved in a notable incident during a caution period when he collided with the back of the pace car. Fortunately, Cooksey, pace car driver Jack Wallace, and ARCA official Buster Auton escaped serious injury. Despite the setback, Cooksey recorded eleven top-tens and four top-fives, with a season-best second-place finish at Flat Rock Speedway, finishing fourth in the championship standings.

ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2000-2007)

In 2000, Cooksey partnered with Don Fauerbach for a full season, recording five top-ten finishes with a best result of third at Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack. He secured his first career pole position at DuQuoin and finished ninth in the standings. This marked his final full ARCA season. In 2001, he reduced his schedule to nine races but remained competitive with five top-ten finishes while making his NASCAR debut.

Cooksey made three NASCAR Busch Series starts in 2001, driving the No. 73 Chevrolet. His debut came at Gateway International Raceway, where he finished 29th due to brake issues. He also raced at Indianapolis and Memphis Motorsports Park that year. In 2002, Cooksey added NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, making his debut in the No. 59 Chevrolet for Fauerbach at Gateway, finishing 23rd. He attempted a second Truck race at Memphis but failed to qualify. During this period, he continued ARCA competition, earning two top-five finishes in dirt events at Springfield and DuQuoin.

From 2004 to 2007, Cooksey raced primarily for Hixson Motorsports in the No. 23 entry. In 2004, he ran a majority of races, earning five top-tens with a best finish of fifth at South Boston Speedway. The 2005 season saw thirteen races with Hixson, highlighted by a third-place finish at Springfield. In 2006, he focused on the two dirt events, finishing in the top-five in both races. In 2007, driving the No. 94 Chevrolet for Darrell Basham, he finished 29th at Springfield due to a crash and failed to qualify at DuQuoin.

Part-Time Era (2009-Present)

After a hiatus from ARCA competition in 2008, Cooksey returned in 2009 with three races in his self-owned No. 51 Chevrolet, recording a seventh-place finish at DuQuoin. Following sporadic appearances through 2014, including top-ten finishes at DuQuoin in both 2013 and 2014, he continued limited competition. In 2018, he ran both dirt races plus Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, finishing ninth at DuQuoin. After a three-year absence, Cooksey returned to DuQuoin in 2022, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Fast Track Racing to an eighth-place finish.

Driving Style and Strengths

Cooksey has demonstrated particular strength on dirt tracks throughout his career, with multiple top-five finishes at Springfield and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack. His consistency on these traditional short-track venues has been a hallmark of his racing, often yielding his best results. His experience spans multiple series, showcasing versatility across different equipment and competition levels.

Joe Cooksey Career Wins

Joe Cooksey has built a respectable career through consistent performance rather than victory lane celebrations. His success is measured in top-ten finishes and strong runs on challenging tracks, particularly dirt ovals.

ARCA Menards Series Highlights

While Cooksey has not secured a race victory in the ARCA Menards Series, he has accumulated 57 top-ten finishes throughout his career dating back to 1996. His lone pole position came at DuQuoin during the 2000 season. His best finishes include second at Flat Rock Speedway in 1999 and multiple third-place results at venues including Winchester, Springfield, and DuQuoin.

NASCAR Appearances

Cooksey made three NASCAR Busch Series starts in 2001 and one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start in 2002. These limited appearances represented his highest-level stock car racing experience, though he did not record top-ten finishes in either series.

Joe Cooksey Family

Personal Life

Details about Joe Cooksey’s personal life and family background are not publicly documented in available sources. He has maintained a relatively private personal profile throughout his racing career.

2025 Season Performance

Joe Cooksey has not been announced for any competition during the 2025 racing season. His most recent appearance came in 2022 at DuQuoin, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Fast Track Racing to an eighth-place finish. With selective appearances becoming his norm in recent years, any future racing commitments would likely follow a similar part-time pattern.