No. 4 Fire Alarm Services Tundra Camping World Trucks Daytona Preview
John Hunter Nemechek will make his much anticipated Kyle Busch Motorsports debut driving the No. 4 Fire Alarm Services Tundra Friday night in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opening event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Nemechek is a six-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 102 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, the second-generation driver has compiled two poles, 609 laps led, 28 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.2. The North Carolina native qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017. He was voted the series most popular driver in 2015.
The second-generation driver has made three starts in Camping World Truck Series action at Daytona, with a best result of seventh coming in the 2017 event. He finished 11th last year in his first career Daytona 500 and equaled that finish in the August Cup Series event at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Nemechek also has two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the World Center of Racing, with an eighth-place finish in the 2019 season-opening event being his best result.
The 23-year-old driver produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award four times and finished 23rd in the championship standings.
Eric Phillips returns to KBM to lead the No. 4 team this season. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. His 37 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 27 of those coming while at KBM. Owner-driver Kyle Busch collected his organization’s lone Truck Series victory at Daytona with Phillips atop the pit box in 2014.
Fire Alarm Services, a one-stop shop safety company with a proven track record of providing excellent service for over 20 years, will adorn the hood of Nemechek’s No. 4 Tundra for eight events on Camping World Truck Series schedule in 2021. Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, will be the primary sponsor for the No. 4 team next week when teams return to Florida take on the road course at Daytona.
Post-Race Report: Phoenix
No. 38 Fire Alarm Services, Inc. (FAS) Ford Mustang
Started: 27th
Finished: 26th
- Stage One: 26th
- Stage Two: 28th
- Stage Three: 26th
For the final race of the 2020 season, John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag at Phoenix Raceway in the 27th position. After the first few laps, he radioed to the team that his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang was very loose and needed lateral drive. At the Competition Caution on Lap 30, he would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment before receiving a speeding penalty, which forced him to restart at the tail end of the field. By Lap 46, Nemechek noted that he was still “too loose running the top.” He would go on to finish Stage 1 in the 26th position and pitted at the Stage Break Caution for another track bar adjustment, 4 tires and fuel.
John Hunter Nemechek restarted Stage 2 in 24th place. On Lap 119, his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang brushed the outside wall after an on-track incident with another car. With minimal damage, he pitted under green for the crew to make repairs, change out the tires, add fuel and make a track bar adjustment. When a caution came out on Lap 161, Nemechek said the balance had been better but was still lacking overall grip. Crew Chief Seth Barbour made the call for Nemechek to stay out under caution to take the wave around so that he would restart on the lead lap. By the time he took the green- and white-checkered flag to end Stage 2 in 28th place, Nemechek noted that he was “snug center, free off on old tires.” He pitted at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and grille tape.
John Hunter Nemechek was able to settle into a rhythm as the Final Stage of the final race of 2020 got underway, noting on Lap 214 that the handling on his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang was “not bad… little snug, little loose.” He managed to make his way into the top 20 with just over 50 laps to go before pitting under green for 4 tires with a slight air pressure adjustment and fuel. Nemechek would cross the finish line in 26th place.
Nemechek finished the season 27th in the driver point standings with three top-10 and eight top-15 finishes.
Nemechek on Phoenix:
“Not quite how we would have liked to finish out the season today. We would have loved to get a top-15 or a top-10 finish for our partners at FAS, but we made what adjustments we could throughout the race. Thank you to Seth [Barbour] and my No. 38 crew for an awesome year. Thank you to Bob [Jenkins] and Jerry [Freeze], the entire Front Row Motorsports team and each of our partners for all the support in my rookie season in the Cup Series. It's been an amazing opportunity to drive this No. 38 Ford Mustang this year.”
FAS Joins John Hunter Nemechek for Season Finale at Phoenix
Nemechek on Phoenix:
"I'm looking forward to closing out the season in Phoenix. I've gotten a few Cup races there under my belt and I think we have a great opportunity to finish the year on a high note. Even if we're not in the Championship 4, we still want to do everything we can to be in contention at the end of the race and go for the win. Our Front Row Motorsports team has continued to grow and we've shown a lot of promising speed this year. We want to be able to deliver a great finish for our last race of 2020.
"I'm excited to have FAS on board our No. 38 Ford Mustang for the final race of the season. They've been a loyal partner of mine and my family's for several years and I'm happy to have them with us this weekend. Hopefully we have a good set of notes for Phoenix that we can go out and make them proud."
Post-Race Report: Martinsville
- Stage One: 22nd
- Stage Two: 25th
- Stage Three: 26th
John Hunter Nemechek started Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway in the 23rd position. His No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang struggled at the beginning, losing a lap before the Competition Caution on Lap 60. He radioed to the team that he was “loose in, loose off, tight center… hard to get power down.” He would take 4 tires, fuel and a packer adjustment on pit road. By the time a caution came out on Lap 73, Nemechek was in the Lucky Dog spot and would regain his lap after pitting for a track bar adjustment. Finishing Stage 1 in the 22nd position, Nemechek noted, “drive off is decent, roll is okay, still snug center.” He would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.
Nemechek restarted the race in 23rd place. When another caution came on Lap 145, it appeared as though Nemechek had made contact with another car, but there were no issues with his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee machine. On Lap 186, he noted that he was still “tight center” and struggling to roll, and would pit for 4 tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. By the time he took the green- and white-checkered flag to finish Stage 2 in 25th place, Nemechek felt that the balance was getting worse and the car bounced a lot, particularly in the turns. He pitted at the Stage 2 Caution for 4 tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment, packer and track bar adjustments.
Nemechek would take the green flag to start the Final Stage of the day at Martinsville Speedway in 23rd place. He noted on Lap 294 that he needed “more drive” in his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang. When the tenth caution of the day came on Lap 352, Nemechek radioed that he was “free off, tight center… no lateral or forward drive.” He pitted under caution for 4 tires, fuel and added spring rubber. By Lap 401, Nemechek said, “center was better, but super free.” His handling did not improve much throughout the remainder of the race, and Nemechek would cross the finish line in 26th place, two laps down.
Nemechek on Martinsville:
“Not exactly the day we were hoping for in our No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang. We struggled pretty much from the start. We were pretty tight and bouncing a lot on entry [into the turns]. We kept trying different adjustments throughout the race but couldn’t quite get it to where we needed the handling in order to make a strong push towards the front. I’m thankful for my team for always sticking with me. A huge thanks to Death Wish Coffee for coming on board this weekend. It was great to recognize our ‘Thank A Trucker’ contest winner, Jason Griffith, with them at Martinsville. Thank you to all the truck drivers out there who have worked tirelessly all year long to keep us going.”
Post-Race Report: Texas II
- Stage One: 11th
- Stage Two: 16th
- Stage Three: 22nd
- John Hunter Nemechek started in the 24th position in Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Shortly after taking the green flag, Nemechek noted that his No. 38 ROMCO Equipment Ford Mustang “fired off on the snug side.” At the competition caution, Crew Chief Seth Barbour called Nemechek to pit road for 4 tires and fuel with no other adjustments. Racing would resume for less than 20 laps before the misty Texas weather would bring out a three-day red flag pause. Once racing resumed on Wednesday, Nemechek narrowly avoided a wreck on Lap 61, noting to the team that he may have slid his tires and sustained front end damage. He pitted under caution for 4 tires, fuel and for the crew to assess damage. Nemechek would go on to finish Stage 1 in 11th place.
- Continuing his strong run towards the front, Nemechek stayed within the top 12 positions for the first half of Stage 2. On Lap 179, Nemechek noted that he picked up a vibration in his No. 38 ROMCO Equipment Ford Mustang that did not improve as the stage progressed. By the time he took the green- and white-checkered flag in 16th place, Nemechek told the team that he was snug through the corner, but he couldn’t get into a rhythm once he picked up the vibration. He would pit at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.
- Nemechek struggled a bit in the Final Stage at Texas Motor Speedway in his No. 38 ROMCO Equipment Ford Mustang. He noted over the radio shortly after restarting the race that track position was key, and that it was difficult to pass. After running dangerously low on fuel, he would pit on Lap 273 for 4 tires and fuel but was otherwise content with the handling of his racecar. Unable to find enough clean air to move up in track position, Nemechek would take the checkered flag in the 22nd position.
Nemechek on Texas:
John Hunter Nemechek Thanks a Trucker with Death Wish Coffee
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 27, 2020) - During the summer months, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) teamed up with partner Death Wish Coffee for a new cause marketing campaign aimed at showing appreciation for truck drivers on the front lines who are working hard to deliver goods during the COVID-19 pandemic. The winning truck driver's name will be featured on John Hunter Nemechek's No. 38 Ford Mustang this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
After receiving over 3,000 entries as part of the "Thank A Trucker" contest, FRM and Death Wish Coffee chose Jason Griffith as the winner. Based in Las Vegas, Nev., Griffith is on the road full-time, spending just a few days each month at home with his wife and twin six-year-old girls.
"It was a lot of fun to be involved in this campaign," said Nemechek. "We received a lot of entries and our team really loved Jason's story. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to Jason and all other truck drivers across the country who are working hard and making difficult sacrifices - not just for their families, but for us as a nation as we grapple with the pandemic."
"We could not be more thrilled with our winner and this contest," said Mike Brown, CEO of Death Wish Coffee. "Jason is a model driver and we are proud to honor him on the No. 38 Death Wish Coffee car. We are also excited to give a nod to 100 other drivers who entered the contest whom will be receiving a pound of Death Wish Coffee and a $100 visa gift card from us as a thank you for being on the front lines during this pandemic. We are very grateful to all of our truckers and haulers for keeping the country moving during this time!"
The No. 38 Death Wish Coffee "Thank A Trucker" Ford Mustang will make its debut at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1 for the "Xfinity 500." The race will be broadcast on NBC and MRN at 2 p.m. ET.
About Death Wish Coffee Company
In 2012, Death Wish Coffee Co. was started in a small coffee shop in Saratoga Springs, NY. Founder Mike Brown saw a need for coffee that was both strong and delicious to serve his groggy, morning customers. After creating the perfect blend of beans and combining it with his unique roasting technique, the World's Strongest Coffee was born. Today, millions of people trust Death Wish Coffee to wake them up and keep them going every day. For more information, visit DeathWishCoffee.com/JHN and follow Death Wish Coffee Co. on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries - the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of John Hunter Nemechek - from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. In 2020, the team announced an expansion to include the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, driven by Todd Gilliland. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/
ROMCO Equipment Teams Up with Front Row Motorsports at Texas
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 20, 2020) - ROMCO Equipment Company, a Texas-based heavy equipment dealer, has partnered with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The brand will serve as primary sponsor on John Hunter Nemechek's No. 38 Ford Mustang for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race on Sunday, October 25.
Family-owned since 1961, ROMCO's mission is to provide customers in construction, mining, road building, oil & gas and aggregate equipment with top quality products and services, backing the customer's purchase with outstanding product support. As an industry leader, ROMCO's reputation is one built upon Excellence, Stability, Innovation and Professionalism.
"We're excited to partner with John Hunter Nemechek as he finishes up his rookie year at the Cup level," said Robert Mullins-Owner of ROMCO Equipment. "We're proud of our Texas roots and couldn't think of a better race to team up with John Hunter and Front Row Motorsports. We're looking forward to seeing the ROMCO colors on the No. 38 at our home track."
"ROMCO Equipment has been a longtime sponsor of myself and my family's team and it's really special to have them join Front Row Motorsports as part of my Cup Series career," said Nemechek. "I'm proud to represent them on track and want to thank them for all of their hard work and support. We'll do everything we can to bring home the win this weekend.
The No. 38 ROMCO Equipment Ford Mustang will make its debut at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 25 for the "Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500" at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and PRN.
For more information about ROMCO Equipment, visit ROMCO.com.
About ROMCO
Post-Race Report: Kansas II
- Stage One: 20th
- Stage Two: 26th
- Stage Three: 17th
- John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in the 32nd position. Shortly after firing off, he noted that his No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang was “a little snug off but not bad.” He quickly made his way into the top 20 and took 4 tires with a slight air pressure adjustment, fuel and a packer adjustment at the Competition Caution. By Lap 43, Nemechek said there was “splitter bounce into [Turn] 1” and he was a touch free. He would go on to take the green- and white-checkered flag to finish Stage 1 in 20th place.
- After pitting at the Stage Break Caution for 4 tires with an air pressure adjustment, fuel, packer adjustment and grille tape, Nemechek began Stage 2 in the 28th position. He was tight to fire off but mostly satisfied with the handling on his No. 38 Speedy Cash machine when he pitted under green partway through Stage 2. He radioed on Lap 137 that his splitter bounce had gone away and was “just a tick on the snug side, but I like it.” With two laps to go in the Stage, Nemechek picked up some right-side damage that knocked in the right front and right rear fenders. He would finish Stage 2 in 26th place and would pit multiple times during the Stage Break Caution for damage repair.
- Still rolling, Nemechek began the day’s Final Stage at Kansas Speedway in the 27th position. He was able to make his way back through the field and into the top 20 with 50 laps to go. When a caution came out on Lap 220, he radioed to the team that his No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang “takes a while to come in,” but didn’t feel a need to make any adjustments on his next pit stop. Nemechek would restart the race P16 with 44 laps to go and take the checkered flag in 17th place.
- “Our No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang was ‘speedy fast’ today. We fired off pretty decent and made a couple of slight adjustments throughout the day to get us to an even better place. We picked up some damage at the end of Stage 2, but my guys on pit road did a great job and we were able to overcome and stay competitive for the rest of the race. We never gave up and managed to come away with a top-20 finish. I’m really proud of my Front Row Motorsports team and so thankful for the effort these guys put in each and every week. A huge thanks to our partners at Speedy Cash for coming on board with us this weekend for their final primary race of the year. Hope we can see them again soon.”
Speedy Cash Joins John Hunter Nemechek for One More Ride at Kansas
Post-Race Report: Charlotte ROVAL
- Stage One: 38th
- Stage Two: 38th
- Stage Three: 36th
- John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag in Sunday’s highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series race at the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the 19th position. With track conditions starting off wet, all drivers were required to use “wet” tires at the beginning of the race. At the Competition Caution, Nemechek said that his No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang was lacking front grip and he needed to turn better, but “drive off isn’t bad.” He would stay out under caution but came to pit road on Lap 18 to change to "slick" tires and take fuel under green. On Lap 23, Nemechek would spin and hit the wall in Turn 6, bringing out a caution and damaging the right side of the car. He would finish Stage 1 in 38th place.
- While on pit road for the crew to work on the right-side damage, Nemechek would have too many pit crew members over the wall under NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy. He would have to return to pit road, where his No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang would be held for a two-lap penalty, ultimately putting him three laps behind the leader. Nemechek soldiered on to take the green- and white-checkered flag to finish Stage 2 in 38th place.
- Nemechek would continue to persevere throughout Stage 3 in his No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang. On Lap 54, he picked up some additional damage in the scuffle following a spin by the No. 11. He would pit a few laps later under green for the crew to work on the car. A tire rub discovered shortly after returning to the track would force him to pit road under green once again on Lap 63. Nemechek would go on to take the checkered flag in 36th place, four laps down.
- “The ROVAL was not our friend today, unfortunately. Our No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang fired off pretty decent, but the rear end just stepped out on me in the first half of the race and I couldn’t save it. We pitted for damage repair and received a penalty that put us two more laps down and we couldn’t really recover from there. Sometimes mistakes just hurt. Hopefully it was still a good show for the fans. It was great that we were able to have them with us in in person at home. We’ll add what we can to our notebook for next time and get ready for Kansas.”