Joe Aramendia, 40, began his career in racing at age 24, a time when many young men are setting aside their childhood dreams for the demands of the workaday world reality. Inspired by his father, the late James Aramendia, Joe stepped out of the stands as a spectator and drove onto the track as a racer, debuting in a thirty-lap feature race at the San Antonio Speedway in San Antonio, Texas in 1988.

Family patriarch James Aramendia was a truck driver by trade who operated a wrecker for Richard Villanueva, owner of Cresswell’s Wreckers, on Saturday nights when Villanueva was shorthanded at the now-defunct Pan American Speedway. That pastime kept father and son close to the track from the time Joe was seven until he turned twelve. A decade-long absence from the track ended following his father’s open-heart surgery in 1988. Encouraged to learn of a few visits to the track by his recuperating father and his nephew Jason, Joe decided to join the pair for their next outing. Watching the cars speed around the oval under the lights, Joe told his father, “Dad, I think I can do that. What do you think?” Without hesitation, his father replied, “I bet you can.”

Coming through the pit gate on his first night of racing, Joe Aramendia drove a crudely painted 1977 Monte Carlo. One track official wryly observed, ‘I hope you have your money in the motor.’ The 30-lap Charger feature race marked a modest beginning as Joe finished second-to-last, ahead of only Douglas “Big Bubba” Anaya. Aramendia rubbed Anaya hard to close the race and avoid the ignominious last position. Reflecting back, Joe noted, “I guess I wanted it more than he did. I didn’t have much of a car but I believed I could drive the thing.”

For the next eight years, Joe raced late-model stock cars and claimed several feature wins, finishing in the top ten in the driver point standings each year. He ran NASCAR Modifieds for another car owner on a few occasions – starting eight races and winning four. In his first Super Late-Model Race in the TIDA series at Altus, Oklahoma, he finished in the top five. He has run in the ROMCO Texas Tornado series, finishing in the top ten at Big H Motor Speedway in San Antonio, at Thunder Hill in Kyle and at the San Antonio Speedway. Running in the late model stock division, Joe won the inaugural Octoberfest competition at San Antonio Speedway.

After progressing through Texas- and regionally-based racing circuits, Joe Aramendia came into his own in 2002 with a sixth place Total Points finish in his NASCAR All Pro debut. Joe finished first in points among rookie drivers and received the prestigious Sportsmanship Award.

During those early years of racing, Joe credits local San Antonio racing legend Larry Bendele as being instrumental in Joe’s move from the NASCAR Charger Division to NASCAR Late Model Stock. From driving instruction to chassis setup, Bendele mentored the novice driver and formed a friendship for life. Aramendia Motorsports currently sponsors Bendele at the San Antonio Speedway.

In January 2003, team owner John Aramendia purchased several Busch Grand National cars from AJ Foyt Racing and Joe Aramendia began his latest move up the racing ladder.
Driving for the first time in a Busch car at the Rockingham 200, Joe qualified 25th in a field of 43 drivers – only one spot behind the top rookie qualifier. After finishing 25th ahead of numerous veteran Busch series drivers, Joe started in the 43rd spot at Las Vegas on a provisional and finished 23rd. In the O’Reilly 300 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Joe started from the 41st position on a provisional and finished 20th -- at the time -- a career best.

Joe Aramendia is the middle child of five children. For the past fifteen years, his partner in racing has been his brother John. A second brother, James Aramendia, drives the 18-wheel hauler that transports the cars to each race. At the races, James watches out for brother Joe from his vantage point as spotter. Speaking to the success of their sibling relationships, Joe says, “They look out for me and I look out for them - it’s a family business.”

Born on April 23, 1963 in San Antonio, Texas to James and Carol Aramendia, Joe resides in Seguin, Texas with wife Carolyn. He has three children: Joeylynn, Carol, and Vinny. A master plumber by trade, Joe finds that racing has now overtaken his “day job” in the competition for his time although he still looks after the latest plumbing venture in Dallas, Texas.