May 19, 2024

Joseph Phillips, 73, passed away on March 4, 2024, at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas.  He was born on July 29, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Jeanne Payne and James Phillips.  He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nancy Phillips; his son Andrew Phillips and his wife Kristina Phillips; his daughter, Laura Quebodeaux and her husband Joshua Quebodeaux; his brothers, John his wife Kathie and Mike Phillips; grandchildren, Drake Phillips, Ronin Phillips, Lea Quebodeaux and Miranda Quebodeaux; his niece Anne; his nephew Tom; brother-in-law Mark and Paulette. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jeanne Payne and James Phillips.

Joe was destined to be in the racing world being born and raised as a young boy in Tulsa, Oklahoma where his passion for racing began at tracks like the Tulsa Speedway, the Tulsa Raceway Park and the Tulsa Expo Raceway. The racetracks were practically in his back yard and whether it was Flat Track Racing, Sprint Car Racing, Dirt Car Racing or Drag Racing, Joe was hooked on racing, period. Joe went from being a race fan to a Flat Track and Sprint Car racer himself, and like most of us, all before the age of having a driver’s license.

Joe’s second passion developed when his grandfather would take Joe to the TV station where he worked, and Joe would watch wrestling being televised at the station. Then, due to his father’s work, Joe’s family packed up their belongings and moved to Houston, Texas in 1965 where he continued to explore his passion for racing and wrestling. Graduating from Memorial High School in 1968, Joe ventured out on his own to pave his own road to life.

In 1972, Joe met Nancy and dated her for 9 years before marrying Nancy on July 17th, 1981. Soon after, they had their first child, Andrew Phillips, on January 1st, 1982, then a second child, Laura Phillips, four years later on December 17th, 1986. When Joe would go to the motocross and car tracks to announce the races, he would bring his son, Andy, with him. Joe shared his passion for wrestling with his daughter, Laura, watching wrestling every week and sometimes even taking his daughter to a wrestling match in Houston.

In the mid 80’s Joe started announcing the races at Rio Bravo MX Park and by the 90’s he was announcing at several racetracks from Beaumont all the way to Dallas. Joe announced at the Rio Bravo MX Park, Skitter MX Park, Highlands MX Park, Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch Nationals, Swan MX Park, GNC Nationals at Mosier Valley MX Park, Texas AMA Qualifiers & Regionals, to name a few. As well, Joe announced the flat track races and car races at Big H Speedway and as a special guest announcer at the Baytown Speedway flat track and car races.

As a race announcer, Joe had a memory like an elephant, remembering multiple generations of racers names and race histories. Joe worked alongside many well-known announcers in Texas, sharing his knowledge and love for racing with his fellow race announcers. Joe wasn’t just the racer’s announcer, but supported many racers by helping countless racers get sponsorships, as well as, sponsoring many racers through the motorcycle dealerships that he worked for at the time, like Hunziker Cycles, Cycle Shack, Stubbs Cycles, Wild West Honda/Kawasaki, Houston Kawasaki, Highlands Kawasaki, AJ Foyt Cycles, K’s Yamaha, to name a few.

In 2003, Joe bought a 2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200, transforming it into a drag bike for his son, Andy, and himself to go drag racing at the local drag strips. Joe cherished the moments with his son at the drag strips, wrenching on the bike, giving his son race advice and watching Andy perform at an amazing level of accomplishment racing which Joe could talk about for hours.

Being proud of his children was something Joe held close to his heart, especially when it came to his daughter’s success at graduating college and earning a master’s degree, later becoming a teacher of Theatre.

Joe loved watching NHRA, NASCAR, Indy Car, Formula1, AMA Flat Track, World of Outlaws Sprint Series, AMA Road Racing, AMA Supercross/Motocross and Isle of Man TT racing in his pastime.

Joe retired from working and announcing in 2023 due to health issues.

On March 4, 2024, Joe passed away peacefully in the hospital with his family by his side.

Joe, we miss you and love you always. Your life was a blessing to many people.

A public memorial will be held May 19, 2024, at Rio Bravo Motocross Park, 11610 N. Lake Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77044.