Joe Garone grew up playing with car parts in his family’s Westminster automotive repair garage. The next step for him was to get behind the wheel.
“As soon as I got a driver’s license, my life changed completely,” Garone said. “I knew the minute that I had my freedom and I had a car and I could run fast through the corners on winding roads, it was over for me.”
Garone’s passion for cars led him to his current position as general manager of NASCAR’s Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team.
After he graduated from Westminster High School, Garone pursued a driving career. He built his own cars and drove at area tracks such as Englewood Speedway and Colorado National Speedway. Looking to expand his knowledge, he took his first step into NASCAR in 1989 and became the crew chief for Arvada driver Rick Carelli. Garone said he planned to work for Carelli one season. But one year turned into six.
“The biggest thing was I knew he understood a race car,” Carelli said. “We had a great opportunity to explore our talents.”
Carelli raced in NASCAR’s Southwest and Winston West Tour circuits and in the Craftsman Truck Series.
After six seasons with Carelli, Garone had a variety of jobs in North Carolina working for NASCAR and with racing teams.
When Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser wanted to start a Sprint Cup team in 2005 in Denver, he reached out to Garone. The Coloradan’s reputation was known in NASCAR, and Visser liked him from the start.
“I could tell he was going to be good with people,” Visser said. “He had a great feel for race cars and setups.”
Garone was hired as the FRR crew chief and manager, and was promoted to general manager in 2007.
As the general manager, Garone is in charge of hiring the team’s driver, daily shop duties and coordination of the team’s logistics. He also has a passion to make FRR a top competitor.
Chad Seigler, who works in marketing with NASCAR, said Garone still is seeking hometown respect.
“They want that race team to be viewed locally in Denver the same way Denver views the Nuggets, Broncos or Avalanche,” Seigler said. “They want to be viewed as a legit team. There is a passion and a desire for the city of Denver and that region.”
Behind the wheel, Garone has gambled on drivers with checkered pasts.
Martin Truex Jr., the FRR driver this year, was left without a ride last season after Michael Waltrip Racing was penalized for manipulating a race. This season, FRR’s average finish is 21st.
The team’s previous driver, Kurt Busch, led FRR to its best season last year. FRR became the first single-car team to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup and finished 10th overall.
But Busch had a fiery temper that got him in trouble off the track before joining FRR. Garone looked beyond that and was the first person to call Busch when he needed a ride.
“I think it’s the fact that he saw through all the bull around my image and what people believed me to be, and he just wanted a true racer to come out to Colorado,” Busch said. “I have him to thank for the successful 2013 season we had.”
Alexandria Valdez: 303-954-1297 or anvaldez@denverpost.com
Garone file
Joe Garone’s long, winding road in motorsports:
1989-94: Rick Carelli’s crew chief.
1995-98: Worked for Bill Elliot Racing as a suspension specialist, over-the-wall front-tire changer and crew chief.
1999: Joined PPI Motorsports as a program manager and crew chief.
2001-03: Worked directly for NASCAR and developed its Research and Development Center. Also was NASCAR’s director of officiating.
2004: Director of competition for Michael Waltrip Racing.
2005-present: Furniture Row Racing.