Jeremy Clements Bio
Jeremy Wayne Clements, born on January 16, 1985, is an American professional stock car racing driver. A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Clements competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 51 Chevrolet Camaro SS for his family-owned team, Jeremy Clements Racing. Across more than two decades in NASCAR’s national touring series, he has built a reputation as one of the most consistent independent operators in the garage. He is widely recognized for holding the all-time record for the most starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Early Life and Background
Jeremy Wayne Clements was born on January 16, 1985, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He grew up surrounded by motorsports, as the son of Tony Clements, owner of Clements Racing Engines. From an early age, the younger Clements was drawn to racing, beginning his career at the age of eight behind the wheel of a go-kart. The combination of family mechanical know-how and a supportive South Carolina racing community helped shape his early development as a driver.
In 1999, Clements transitioned from go-karts to four-cylinder cars, racing in both the Modified and Stock Series at Thunder Valley Speedway and Cherokee Speedway. Over the next three seasons, he won 55 feature events and two track championships, establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in the Southeast. These grassroots successes laid the foundation for his move into NASCAR’s development ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Clements stepped up to the Late Model division in 2002, winning nine overall races and capturing the championship at Cherokee Speedway. That same year, he made his ARCA Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 3 Chevrolet, finishing seventeenth. A breakthrough ARCA victory came in 2007 at Nashville Superspeedway, where he led 48 laps to claim his first and only ARCA win to date. His steady climb through Late Models and ARCA showcased a driver prepared for the demands of NASCAR’s national stage.
Jeremy Clements Career
Early Career (2003-2007)
Jeremy Clements made his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut in 2003 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet for Young Racing. He started 35th and finished 31st after an early crash. After several seasons focused on regional racing, Clements returned to the national series in 2007 with McGill Motorsports, running the final five races of the season in their No. 36 Chevrolet.
During these formative years, Clements balanced national series efforts with developmental racing. In 2004, he suffered a serious injury at 311 Speedway in North Carolina when a broken driveshaft pierced his car, severely damaging his right hand. He endured multiple surgeries and skin grafts before returning to racing in 2005. The recovery period sharpened his resolve and deepened his commitment to a long career in stock car racing.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2008-2017)
Clements steadily increased his presence in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series during the late 2000s, transitioning from his family-owned No. 50 team to a partnership with JD Motorsports. He earned his first career top-ten finish in 2010 at Gateway International Raceway and recorded a then-career-best sixth-place run at Road America in 2014. A pivotal moment came in 2016 at Talladega Superspeedway, where he earned his first top-five finish in the series.
The defining achievement of Clements’ career arrived in 2017 at Road America, where he captured his first career victory in the Johnsonville 180. The win was historic, as it marked the first victory for an independent Xfinity Series team not affiliated with a NASCAR Cup Series operation since David Gilliland won at Kentucky in 2006. That breakthrough cemented Clements as a respected underdog story and provided the foundation for his ongoing success with his family-owned operation.
Jeremy Clements Racing Era (2018-Present)
Following the 2017 breakthrough, Clements continued to build Jeremy Clements Racing into a fixture of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He has finished inside the top twenty in points several times, including fifteenth in 2018 and fourteenth in 2019. The team earned its second victory in 2022 at the Wawa 250 at Daytona, a dramatic overtime win that initially led to an L2 penalty before Clements successfully appealed and regained his playoff eligibility.
In recent seasons, Clements has maintained steady performance despite limited resources. He scored eight top-ten finishes in 2021, finished nineteenth in 2023, and added a sixth-place run at Atlanta in 2024. In 2025, he made his 500th Xfinity Series start at Circuit of the Americas, joining an elite group of drivers to reach that milestone. His durability and consistency have made him a fixture of the series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jeremy Clements is known for his smooth, patient driving style and his ability to maximize equipment on a budget. He excels at superspeedways and road courses, with signature performances at Talladega, Road America, Watkins Glen, and Daytona. His tactical race craft and consistent finishes have made him a model of persistence for independent operators in the NASCAR garage.
Notable Races and Milestones
Clements’ most celebrated wins came at Road America in 2017 and at Daytona in 2022. He reached his 500th career Xfinity Series start at Circuit of the Americas in 2025 and, in 2026, became the all-time leader in series starts with 548, surpassing every other driver in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history.
Jeremy Clements Career Wins
Jeremy Clements has recorded two career victories in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, along with one ARCA Menards Series win. His two national series triumphs stand as proof that a small, family-owned team can compete and win against the sport’s best-funded organizations.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Clements has accumulated two career wins, 44 top-ten finishes, and zero poles in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. His first victory came at Road America in 2017, and his most recent win came at Daytona in 2022. He has tied his best points finish of twelfth on three occasions, in 2017, 2021, and 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
Clements earned one ARCA Menards Series victory at Nashville Superspeedway in 2007, leading 48 laps from the front row. Across his ARCA career, he recorded one win and 21 top-ten finishes, establishing himself as a reliable competitor in stock car racing’s developmental ranks.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 2 | 44 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 1 | 21 | 0 |
Jeremy Clements Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jeremy Clements is the son of Tony Clements, owner of Clements Racing Engines. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in engine building and racing gave him an early technical education and a strong support system. His family-owned team, Jeremy Clements Racing, continues that legacy in the NASCAR garage.
Personal Life
A South Carolina native, Jeremy Wayne Clements has spent much of his life competing in stock car racing while building his family-owned team. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, he has remained committed to the sport through every challenge and milestone.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season was a milestone year for Jeremy Clements. He opened the year with a strong ninth-place finish at Daytona, where he was also awarded an extra point for recording the Xfinity Fastest Lap. At Circuit of the Americas, he made his 500th career Xfinity Series start, becoming only the fourth driver in series history to reach that mark.
Throughout the year, Clements demonstrated the consistency that has defined his career, recording four top-ten finishes across the season. He concluded the year ranked 21st in the final standings, a steady result that reflected both his durability and the steady progress of Jeremy Clements Racing.
Looking ahead, Clements carries major momentum into 2026, where he has already added another historic achievement to his resume. His combination of experience, independence, and race-craft continues to make him one of the most respected underdogs in NASCAR.
