Furniture Row Hires ‘Front Row’ Joe Nemechek

November 4, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on November 2007 Furniture Row, a Denver-based retailer with more than 330 stores, announced Friday that it has signed a three-year contract with Nascar veteran Joe Nemechek to drive the company’s entry in Nascar Nextel Cup, the sport’s top series.

Nemechek has four victories in the top level of Nascar racing since 1999. He has been a Nextel Cup driver since 1994 after entering the lower-level Busch Series as Rookie of the Year in 1990 and capturing the Busch Series Championship in 1992.

Furniture Row has been one of the only sponsors to own and operate its own Nascar team since it entered the sport in 2005. Like most new teams, it has struggled by failing to qualify for numerous races this year. Since joining the team, Nemechek has qualified for all but two of the nine races he has attempted to enter. Long before joining Furniture Row, he gained the nickname “Front Row Joe” on the way to winning nine pole awards as the fastest qualifier in those events.

Furniture Row announced plans earlier this year to expand the race team to two cars for 2008 by seeking an additional sponsor for Nemechek’s 78 car and moving Furniture Row’s sponsorship to a second car.

“We’re thrilled to have (Nemechek) on board,” said Team Manager Joe Garone. “We’re geared up to win in 2008, and are planning for growth as we enter or third Nextel Cup season,” he said, calling Nemechek “the best qualifier and the best average finisher of available drivers.”