Nemechek Battles Hard for Podium Finish at Berlin
The Battle at Berlin 251 wasn't just a cleverly-named Super Late Model race that John Hunter Nemechek competed in Tuesday night. Calling it a battle was actually quite telling for how hard the young NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie competitor had to work throughout the 251 grueling laps around the 4/10-mile Michigan oval
Nemechek started his No. 8 Durobyte Chevy Super Late Model from the sixth position, but almost instantly had to wrestle his racecar around Berlin Raceway. A tight condition caused Nemechek to fight to keep his place among the leaders in the first half of the race before pit stops could be made to adjust the car.
Through some clever pit strategy and a hard-working attitude between both driver and the NEMCO Motorsports pit crew, Nemechek's car was able to improve throughout the race. Nemechek found himself in position to win in the closing stages as he battled hard inside the podium positions before finishing an impressive third.
"It was a good day for us considering the way it started," said Nemechek following Tuesday's race. "At the start of the race, I was way too tight. I couldn't rotate the center, couldn't get off the corner. All it would do is push. We decided to pit early and see what we can come up with. Dad and I talked about it and he made some great calls on the radio trying to get us some track position as well as stay on top of the tire situation."
With the help of his NASCAR race-winning dad Joe atop the pit box helping John Hunter throughout the Battle at Berlin, the No. 8 car was right in the thick of the heavy battle for the lead in crunch time. Late in the race, Nemechek diced his way through several three-wide situations en route to the strong finish.
Still, even having finished an impressive third, Nemechek was left wondering what could have been if circumstances late in the race had played out differently.
"I can't thank my guys enough for their hard work," added Nemechek. "I wish we could've had those sticker right-side tires that we had left in the pits. We actually put our first set back on that had 70 laps on them around lap 170. It was definitely a little more difficult to pass with those tires, but we maintained. Who knows what would've happened with our Durobyte Chevy. We put all of our time and effort into this race. We started the weekend rough, but we finished strong."
Nemechek will be back behind the wheel of his NASCAR Camping World Truck series ride on June 19 as he competes at Iowa Speedway with his NEMCO Motorsports No. 8.
Nemecheck Ready for a Berlin Super Late Model Battle
Even as John Hunter Nemechek began a new chapter in his racing career last Saturday in his first race as a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, the rising star is still eager to check off a few more items on his short track accomplishments wish list.
Nemechek, the winner of such prestigious events as the Snowball Derby and All American 400, will make the trip up to Michigan this Tuesday to compete in the Battle at Berlin 251, a Super Late Model special event at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.
Three dozen of the best SLM drivers in the country are scheduled to compete and Nemechek knows he will have to bring his A-game to take home another trophy.
"I hadn't seen the racetrack until we came up here a few weeks ago to test," said Nemechek upon arriving at the facility Monday. "It's definitely a tricky place, but it's not something we can't grasp. I've learned you have to have rear grip to get good drive off. The longer you run, the more you spin the rear tires. Keeping the car turning in the middle of the corner without hurting the drive off is going to be key.
The Battle at Berlin event will be 251 grueling laps around the Michigan bullring, but Nemechek has proven to be at his best in the extra-distance events.
"I definitely like these long races," added Nemechek. " I think it takes a little bit more of a driver to run all those laps and have the endurance to contend at the end. But I've grown up racing these long races, especially now with the Truck Series team. I like making pit stops too."
If he can indeed take the flag after 251 long laps on a warm June evening, Nemechek says that it will immediately go near the top of his racing résumé.
"This is something we've been looking forward to for a while. Ever since we got back from our test, we've been working on this car. Any big late model race you can win, you want to put your name in the history books."