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| Joey Hand | |
|---|---|
| Name | Joey Hand |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | March 17, 1979 |
| Birth place | Sacramento, California, United States |
| Current series | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| First year | 1999 |
| Championships | 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans (GTE-Pro class, co-champion) |
Joey Hand is an American professional racing driver known for sports car endurance racing, touring car competition, and occasional appearances in open-wheel and stock car series. He has competed for major manufacturers and factory teams across International Motor Sports Association, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned endurance events, and international series. Hand's career spans victories at marquee events and long-term partnerships with teams linked to BMW (automobile), Chip Ganassi Racing, and other professional organizations.
Born in Sacramento, California, Hand began karting in youth and progressed through junior formulae and club racing circuits in United States regional series. He moved from karting to open-wheel categories such as Formula Renault-style championships and participated in development programs associated with manufacturers and racing schools. Early results on West Coast circuits and national amateur events led to invitations to factory evaluation tests and opportunities with touring car and sports car teams.
Hand established himself in professional sports car racing with appearances in series including the American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and later the unified IMSA SportsCar Championship (now IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship). He served as a factory or semi-factory driver for manufacturers competing in prototypes and GT classes, driving chassis and cars homologated under Le Mans Prototype and GT3 (homologation) regulations. Hand has contested endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Daytona, partnering with co-drivers from international driver lineups and competing on circuits like Circuit de la Sarthe, Sebring International Raceway, and Daytona International Speedway.
Beyond sports cars, Hand made selective entries in NASCAR touring events and IndyCar feeder series, bringing endurance experience to short oval and road-course formats. He has driven in NASCAR Xfinity Series or equivalent stock car races and participated in open-wheel showings tied to regional Indy Lights-style development categories and select IndyCar Series support events. These cross-disciplinary appearances allowed collaboration with teams familiar from sports car paddocks and exposure to different technical regulations and racecraft demands on circuits like Circuit of the Americas and Long Beach Street Circuit.
Hand's most prominent result includes a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE-Pro class, achieved alongside co-drivers in a manufacturer-backed effort. He has stood on podiums at endurance classics such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona and scored overall and class wins in continental series like the American Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series-style events. Hand contributed to team and manufacturer championship campaigns in GT categories, helping secure standings and titles recognized by FIA-aligned points systems and series organizers.
Over his career Hand has driven for high-profile operations including factory-backed programs from BMW (automobile), collaborations with Chip Ganassi Racing-aligned efforts, and entries fielded by established sports car teams. He partnered with co-drivers drawn from international talent pools, including professionals who have competed in Formula One, World Endurance Championship, and DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters). Hand's roles encompassed development testing, race driving, and promotional activities tied to manufacturer motorsport programs and partner sponsors.
Off-track, Hand has engaged in driver coaching, motorsport media appearances, and ambassadorial work for automotive brands and charitable foundations associated with racing. He has been active in community events and industry gatherings that bring together participants from series such as SRO Motorsports Group championships, Pirelli World Challenge, and other professional racing bodies. Residing in the United States, he balances family life with commitments to endurance racing calendars and manufacturer test programs.
Category:American racing drivers Category:Sports car racing drivers Category:1979 births Category:Living people