Constant = Badass

JOE MOONEY: THE CONSTANT BEHIND THE 39M

In Sprint Car racing, drivers change. Teams evolve. Crew members come and go.

But inside the Macri Motorsports 39M, one thing has remained constant: Joe Mooney.

The Lehighton native went from racing himself around Pennsylvania to becoming one of the most respected and successful wrench-turners in the game.

Mooney grew up around racing, started on pavement at Mahoning Valley, then moved to dirt and raced modifieds and other divisions while working a day job.

In 2017, he hung up the helmet and went all-in on Sprint Cars, first working with Shark Racing and Logan Schuchart.

That road eventually led to Kasey Kahne Racing, where Mooney became car chief for Brad Sweet. He was part of the KKR operation that won four consecutive World of Outlaws championships from 2019–2022, along with major victories including the Kings Royal.

Then came the bigger gamble.

In 2023, Mooney left KKR to become crew chief for Anthony Macri and the 39M.

It didn’t take long to prove the move was the right one.

Mooney and Macri have stacked up major Pennsylvania wins, four straight Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek championships, and back-to-back $200,000 Kings Royal victories at Eldora in 2025 and 2026.

2026 gave us the ultimate test of the 39M package. With Macri sidelined by injuries in two different occurrences, Kasey Kahne climbed into the car. Williams Grove Kahne scored a World of Outlaws victory — with Mooney calling the shots.

Weeks later, James McFadden jumped into the same 39M and won the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway, charging from 11th to the victory.

Different drivers.

Same 39M.

Same crew chief.

Same results.

That’s what makes Joe Mooney stand out.

He isn’t the loudest name in the pits. He doesn’t need to be.

He’s the guy turning wrenches, making decisions, chasing setup, and keeping the whole operation pointed toward Victory Lane.

From Lehighton to KKR championships to the biggest stages in Sprint Car racing, Mooney’s path has been anything but traditional. But the formula is pretty damn simple:

Build it right. Work your ass off. Stay consistent.

And when the driver changes?

The 39M doesn’t miss a beat.

That’s the Joe Mooney effect.