Joe Gibbs Racing announces death of beloved team member

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Monday the death of Andy “Doggie” Nelson, a member of their ARCA Menards Series team and the NASCAR garage.

Nelson passed away in his sleep on Sunday. He was 39.

“Andy was a beloved member of our ARCA team and the NASCAR garage,” JGR said in a statement. “He had a passion for racing and was always willing to lend a helping hand. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Doggie and praying for his family and friends.”

Andy was a beloved member of our
ARCA team and the NASCAR garage. He had a passion for racing and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Doggie and praying for his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/CF5DGTa0OF

— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) October 14, 2024

Joe Gibbs Racing mourning loss of ‘beloved’ crew member

Known as “Doggie,” Nelson served as an interior and tire specialist for JGR. Nelson was a member of the ARCA Menards Series East championship-winning team in each of the last two seasons. The Dalles, Oregon, native worked for Blaney Racing, Turner Scott Motorsports and MDM Motorsports before moving to JGR in 2019, per ARCA’s report.

Nelson was part of Ryan Blaney’s first NASCAR touring series victory in the ARCA West Series in 2011, as well as Justin Haley and Harrison Burton’s ARCA East Series championship-winning teams in 2016 and ’17, respectively.

Many within the motorsports community offered tributes to Nelson after news of his death became public.

“Yesterday I received some news from back east that made me sit down for a little bit. The world lost one of the good ones yesterday,” World of Outlaws crew member Rob Beattie wrote on X. “Andy (Doggie) Nelson. R.I.P my friend.”