August 10, 2020 – John Hunter Nemechek

No. 38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang

Started: 36th

Finished: 23rd

John Hunter Nemechek would start Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway in the 36th place but had to drop to the rear to take the green flag due to running a backup car following heavy damage during Saturday’s race. Shortly after the start of the race, Nemechek reported that his No. 38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang was dragging, particularly on the straightaway. He continued to battle a tight-handling car through much of Stage 1, taking the green- and white-checkered flag in 28th place. He would pit at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.

Restarting P30, Nemechek radioed that his No. 38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang got tighter as the run went on. On Lap 78, he noted that he was starting to get a vibration but continued to stay on track through the rest of Stage 2. He took the green- and white-checkered flag in 29th place, saying that the car’s balance was a little unpredictable… “like it wants to turn, but it doesn’t.” He pitted under caution for 4 tires, fuel, packer and track bar adjustments.

Nemechek would start the day’s Final Stage in 30th place. He was able to make up a bit of ground but continued to say that his No. 38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang was dragging down the straightaway. When the caution came out on Lap 136, the crew took a big swing to try and improve his handling with 4 tires, fuel, and track bar, wedge and packer adjustments. Those adjustments helped, but with limited time left in the race, Nemechek would cross the finish line in 23rd place.

Nemechek on Michigan:

“We struggled today in our No. 38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang. We were tight at the start and dragged a lot, particularly when I would get within a few car lengths of another car. We made adjustments throughout the day, and the last one definitely helped us get more speed at the end, but we came home P23. My crew did a great job of sticking with it to the end and never giving up. Huge thanks to our partners at Mystik Lubricants for coming on board this weekend. We’ll have another chance to get them a good result at Bristol next month."

No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang

Started: 31st

Finished: 36th (out)

Following a random draw for starting position, John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag in the first of the Michigan International Speedway doubleheader races in 31st place. Nemechek reported possible damage and tire smoke early on after contact with the 00 on the first lap. When the Competition Caution came out on Lap 15, Nemechek noted that his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang needed to be “freed up just a tick in the center.” Ending Stage 1 in 13th place, his feedback was the same, though he said his handling wasn’t bad. At the Stage Break Caution, he pitted for 4 tires with an air pressure adjustment, fuel, a track bar adjustment and grille tape.

Nemechek began the second stage in 17th place. He radioed on Lap 63 that his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang was “missing a bit of front turn.” Nemechek fought to stay inside the top 20 for the majority of the stage, noting on Lap 70 that he had picked up a vibration. He would take the green- and white-checkered flag to end Stage 2 in the 16th position and said that he needed “more turn in the center… double what we did” on the previous stop. He pitted at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.

After a great pit stop, Nemechek took the green flag for the Final Stage in 16th place. On Lap 92, contact with the No. 17 sent his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang into the grass, bringing out a caution. After pitting for the crew to assess damage, Crew Chief Seth Barbour told Nemechek, “overall not too much damage.” Shortly after restarting the race, Nemechek had a cut tire, causing him to spin coming off of Turn 4. Nemechek would have another tire go down on Lap 130, resulting in heavy damage and ending his day. He finished in the 36th position.

Nemechek on Michigan:

“It was a long, tough day at Michigan International Speedway for our No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang. We actually weren’t too bad to start off, just needed to be a tick freer at the beginning. Unfortunately, we had some contact with the 17, which sent us into the grass and then we had multiple tires go down, which ended our day prematurely. Appreciate all the hard work my crew has put into our cars this weekend and all the support from our partners. Thankfully, we’ll have another chance in tomorrow’s race."

Day: August 10, 2020