JH Race Preview: Iowa Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports
Race Preview
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: American Ethanol 200
Date: Friday, June 19, 2015
Venue: Iowa Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at Iowa Speedway ... This weekend will mark SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the .875-mile track. John Hunter Nemechek posted a team best finish of tenth place at the Newton, Iowa, facility on July 11, 2014.
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History ... Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has logged 55 starts from five drivers, resulting in strong performances including one victory and seven top-five finishes, as well as 26 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 15.5 and an average finishing position of 13.5.
Follow NEMCO Motorsports on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit NEMCO Motorsports’ Twitter page - @NEMCOMotorsport. Also, follow the NEMCO Motorsports drivers on their personal Twitter pages - @FrontRowJoe87, and @JHNemechek. You can also “like” Joe Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /NASCARJoe, and John Hunter Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /JohnHunterNemechek.
Meet John Hunter Nemechek … Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing display located in the Iowa Speedway fan midway area for a question and answer session with John Hunter Nemechek on Friday, June 19 at 2:45 p.m. (CT). Nemechek is scheduled to participate in an autograph session with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (CT) on Friday.
Catch the Action ... The American Ethanol 200 will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, June 19, starting with the pre-race show at 8:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the ninth event on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX Sports 2.
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 8 MeetBall Chevrolet Silverado
This Week's SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ Chevrolet Silverado at Iowa Speedway ... John Hunter Nemechek will pilot Chassis No. 042 in the American Ethanol 200 at the Iowa Speedway. The Gere Kennon-led team unloaded this chassis last week at the Gateway Motorsports Park. On June 13 at the Madison, Ill., facility, the NEMCO Motorsports-prepared chassis qualified 12th and finished in the fourth-position.
Iowa: Fields of Opportunity ... This weekend marks Nemechek’s second Iowa Speedway appearance with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., driver has earned an average starting position of 14.0 and an average finishing position of 10.00 at the track.
Iowa Speedway Rewind … Although John Hunter Nemechek suffered difficulties, he displayed progress throughout the only practice session at the Iowa Speedway, finishing the morning practice session 16th on the speed chart. Starting from the 14th-position, Nemechek quickly gained positions making his way into the top-10 before Lap 25. Battling difficult handling conditions, Nemechek finished tenth – his second top-10 finish in his fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start of the 2014 season.
Short Track Stats: In six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts on short tracks (less than one mile in length), Nemechek has recorded two top-10 finishes, with an average starting spot of 17.8 and an average finish of 14.2 on these racetracks.
#FindYourParty … MeetBall, a real-time location sharing navigation application, will be the primary partner on the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado at the Iowa Speedway for the American Ethanol 200, and was on-board with John Hunter Nemechek at the Dover International Speedway on May 29. In April, John Hunter Nemechek was announced as the free mobile app's exclusive NASCAR brand ambassador.
Welcome Rocky Ridge … John Hunter Nemechek was announced as a brand ambassador for Rocky Ridge Custom Trucks on Thursday, June 18. In addition, Rocky Ridge will receive associate branding on the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado. Based out of Franklin Springs, Ga., Rocky Ridge Custom Trucks is a family-owned and operated special vehicle manufacturer (SVM) for General Motors specializing in truck conversions and upgrades.
Battle at Berlin 251 … On Tuesday, June 16, John Hunter Nemechek started his No. 8 Durobyte Chevrolet Super Late Model from the sixth position at the Berlin Raceway. After battling for position around the 4/10-mile Michigan oval for 251 laps, Nemechek crossed the finish line third.
In the Rearview Mirror: Gateway Motorsports Park ... John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports, finished fourth on June 13 in the American Ethanol presents the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 brought to you by Ameren NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Gateway Motorsports Park. The finish was Nemechek’s career-best finish in 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE (ON IOWA SPEEDWAY.):
“We are going into this weekend at Iowa Speedway with some momentum from finishing fourth at Gateway Motorsports Park – a career-best finish. And at the Berlin Raceway on Tuesday, we had a great finish in finishing third while battling for second position.
“Definitely our NEMCO Motorsports guys have been working hard. The dedication shows and hopefully our hard work can pay-off on Friday. Iowa (Speedway) is a fun place. You have to have your truck right or you cannot go. Hopefully we can get it dialed-in during practice.”
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."
JH Race Preview: Gateway Motorsports Park
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports
Race Preview
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: American Ethanol presents the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 brought to you by Ameren
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2015
Venue: Gateway Motorsports Park
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at Gateway Motorsports Park ... This weekend will mark SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the 1.25-mile track. After leading for 53 laps, John Hunter Nemechek posted a 15th place, team-best finish at the Madison, Ill., facility on June 14, 2014.
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History ... Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has logged 54 starts from five drivers, resulting in strong performances including one victory and six top-five finishes, as well as 25 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 15.5 and an average finishing position of 13.7.
Follow NEMCO Motorsports on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit NEMCO Motorsports’ Twitter page - @NEMCOMotorsport. Also, follow the NEMCO Motorsports drivers on their personal Twitter pages - @FrontRowJoe87, and @JHNemechek. You can also “like” Joe Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /NASCARJoe, and John Hunter Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /JohnHunterNemechek.
NASCAR Next … During a ceremony on May 05 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., John Hunter Nemechek was formally announced as a member of the 2015-2016 NASCAR Next class, a group of up-and-coming talent that joins the industry program aimed at spotlighting NASCAR’s emerging stars.
Meet John Hunter Nemechek … John Hunter Nemechek is scheduled to participate in an autograph session with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, June 13.
On the Radio … On Saturday, Joe Nemechek will be a guest analyst on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series broadcast on the Motor Racing Network (MRN). Nemechek will be joined in the booth by Kurt Becker and Kyle Rickey. The MRN race broadcast starts at 7:00 p.m. (CT).
Catch the Action ... The American Ethanol presents the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 brought to you by Ameren will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, June 13, starting with the pre-race show at 8:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the eighth event on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX Sports 2.
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado
This Week's SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ Chevrolet Silverado at Gateway Motorsports Park ... John Hunter Nemechek will pilot Chassis No. 042 in the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at the Gateway Motorsports Park. This NEMCO Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet Silverado is new for the 2015 season to the Gere Kennon-led team.
“Meet Me in St. Louis” ... This weekend marks Nemechek’s second Gateway Motorsports Park appearance with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., driver has earned an average starting position of 12.00 and an average finishing position of 15.00 at the track. In his seventh career start in the series and his third in 2014, Nemechek posted a 15th-place finish at the track.
Gateway Rewind … John Hunter Nemecheck was battling for third place when a spinout on Lap 146 .0ultimately led to a 15th-place finish. With 16 laps winding down in the race, two trucks combatted for position across multiple laps for third place, and they inevitably touched with Nemechek’s truck receiving a cut tire in the fray. Nemechek had led 53 of the race laps, the first laps in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career, scoring the second highest number of laps, beaten only by the eventual race-winner. His strong performance was underscored by praise on various social media platforms from Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick on Twitter.
Speedway Stats: In six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts on speedway tracks (tracks 1-mile to 2-mile in length), Nemechek has recorded one top-five finish and three top-10 finishes, with an average starting spot of 10.3 and an average finish of 12.7 on these racetracks.
Full-time Ride … John Hunter Nemechek will compete in a total of 18 events in the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado during the 2015 season, sharing driving duties with his father, Joe Nemechek, until his 18th birthday (Thursday, June 11). John Hunter Nemechek will finish out the remainder of the truck series schedule beginning at the Gateway Motorsports Park.
In the Rearview Mirror: Texas Motor Speedway ... Joe Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports, finished sixth on June 05 in the WinStar World Casino 400 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The finish was his second top-ten finish in four starts this season. With son John Hunter Nemechek, collaborating with him from high atop the spotters stand, Joe Nemechek qualified 10th for the 167-lap event.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE (ON GATEWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK.):
“Last year at Gateway (Motorsports Park) we ran very well. We made huge improvements from the first practice – from hitting the fence to leading laps and contending for the win. We had an unfortunate event happen there at the end of the race that put us out of contention.
“I really look forward to going back this year. It is a very fun place. Both corners are different so you have to get your truck handling in both, and it is more of a drivers track. You will see some guys struggle and some guys will prevail. We have been preparing very hard, and we are all very dedicated to try and get a win at Gateway. A lot of late nights at the shop and we have been working hard for a good result this weekend.”