Joe Mullins racing career began humbly, competing with a borrowed go-kart that always seemed to break when it was his turn to drive it. When he was finally able to buy his own kart, he learned some speed secrets and quickly became more competitive, winning championships in his third and fourth year of racing. In 1990, a friend said that if Joe gave him $200, he would let him drive his Enduro car at I-76 Speedway, and a deal was struck. Joe says he had never been so nervous in a car in his life, but had so much fun that he built his own car the next winter. He began competing in the Econo class at I-76 Speedway on a weekly basis, racing on the I-76 dirt oval on Saturday night and in the Go-Karts on Sunday afternoon. He left the Karts when he moved weekly competition in the Super Stocks, one of the more competitive dirt track divisions in the state. He bought his first dirt modified in 1995, and began racing it along with his Super Stock at weekly shows, making for some busy race nights. Rocky Mountain National Speedway became his favorite track, and he was a fixture at the facility, where he arrivedat the track with both cars prepared and ready to race, then moved between the two classes for heats and main events, week after week. He was able to win main events on both cars on some evenings, and won the competitive Super Stock division championship at Rocky Mountain in 1997 and 1998. Joe became one of the more popular drivers wherever he ran in this era, as the fans enjoyed seeing him race both cars in the tight, ultra-competitive weekly battles.
Joe lists his accomplishment at the 1976 Fall Classic, the season-ending event at I-76 Speedway, as one of his favorite racing memories. He raced his way to a main event win in thestar-studded modified division, then started dead last in the Super Stock Main event and made his way to the front to score a second win of the night.
As he looks back at his long and adventure-filled career, Joe readily acknowledges the help he has received along the way. Most importantly, Joe acknowledges his wife, Sandy, who supported Joe and his racing since before they were married. His ambitious racing accomplishments speak for themselves, and Joe says would like to be remembered as a clean but fast racer who was tough to pass. With his 2021 induction, he will also be remembered as a member of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.
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