Post-Race Report: Fontana
No. 38 Fire Alarm Services Ford Mustang
Started: 23rd
Finished: 25th
- Stage One: 24th
- Stage Two: 23rd
- Stage Three: 25th
- John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag 23rd in the Auto Club 400 Sunday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway. His No. 38 Fire Alarm Services Ford Mustang fired off tight and battled inside of the Top 25 throughout the course of Stage 1. Nemechek noted that the car was, “a tick on the snug side” and that he needed more turn after finishing Stage 1 in the 24th position.
- During the Stage 1 caution, Nemechek pitted for 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment. Not long after the green flag fell to mark the beginning of Stage 2, Nemechek made note that his Fire Alarm Services Ford was extremely tight in dirty air and would go on to finish Stage 2 in the 23rd position.
- Under the Stage 2 caution, the team took a big swing at Nemechek’s No. 38 Fire Alarm Services Ford Mustang, adding 4 new tires, fuel, grille tape and a trackbar adjustment. Despite the changes, the No. 38 Ford still seemed to be tight in traffic and Nemechek would go on to take the checkered flag in the 25th position.
Nemechek on Fontana: “It was a tough day for our No. 38 Fire Alarm Services team. We had a little issue early on pit road, but we were able to improved on it throughout the day. We couldn’t seem to get going on restarts and ultimately ran all day, in and around where we ended up finishing. Thanks to all of the guys on the team for never giving up and thanks to Fire Alarm Services for coming on board. A 25th place run obviously is not where we wanted to finish, but things could have been a lot worse. It was a pretty decent points day, so we’ll move on and get ready for Phoenix Raceway next weekend.”
Post-Race Report: Las Vegas
No. 38 Berry's Bullets Ford Mustang
Started: 29th
Finished: 24th
- Stage One: 26th
- Stage Two: 26th
- Stage Three: 24th
- John Hunter Nemechek started the weekend strong at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in practice. When it came time to start Sunday’s race, the No. 38 Berry’s Bullets Ford Mustang fired off on the free side with Nemechek reporting a lack of rear grip and a need for lateral stability. The crew made a few adjustments in early pit stops to help tighten up the car and Nemechek finished Stage 1 in the 26th position.
- Fighting his way to the front, Nemechek ran in the Top 20 for much of Stage 2. As the run went on, the handling for Nemechek’s Berry’s Bullets Ford improved, allowing him to run near the front of the lead pack towards the end of the stage. He took the green and white checkered flag again in the 26th position, one lap down.
- Early in Stage 3, Nemechek’s Berry’s Bullets Ford got loose, sending him into a spin. Thankfully, he recovered quickly and made two trips to pit road to change out all four tires and make a wedge adjustment. Nemechek had an impressive run throughout the remainder of Stage 3, racing his way back to the lead lap and even inside the Top 10 at times. An unfortunate pit road mistake sent him towards the back of the lead pack with only a handful of laps remaining and Nemechek ultimately crossed the finish line P24.
Nemechek on Las Vegas: "We had some good highs and some unfortunate lows today. Our No. 38 Berry’s Bullets Ford Mustang was really free to start the day. Thankfully, as the race went on and we made adjustments and had some longer runs, we were able to get the handling to the point where I felt comfortable. Ultimately, we made some mistakes towards the end that cost us the finish we had earned today. I’m ready to move on to Auto Club Speedway next weekend and build on the speed that we’ve been able to show early on this season."
Race Preview: Las Vegas
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 19, 2020) – Berry’s Bullets, a producer of superior bullets for shooters everywhere, has partnered with Front Row Motorsports and John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.
Based in St. George, Utah, Berry’s provides superior plated bullets and other reloading and shooting accessories. The family-owned and operated business holds its core beliefs of faith, family, and hard work to the highest standard. Decades of experience in the shooting industry make Berry's Bullets the superior choice for shooting and reloading needs. Berry’s Bullets has also been a longtime supporter of Nemechek, serving as a primary partner in several NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
“We love how well John Hunter’s personality and performance on the track fits in with our brand,” said Tony Berry, Owner of Berry’s. “We strive to provide exceptional quality and customer service, while always prioritizing faith and family. John Hunter also has very strong ties in his faith and family, and we are excited to continue supporting him in his rookie year at the Cup Level."
“I’m really looking forward to heading to Las Vegas this weekend with Berry’s Bullets on my No. 38 Ford Mustang,” said Nemechek. “They’ve been such a great supporter for me in my career and we’ve come really close to winning with them at this track in the past. I’m excited to give it another shot this weekend. We're coming off of a really strong run with an 11th place finish in the Daytona 500. It’s cool to be the highest-place finisher among the rookie class in my first race as a full-time Cup Series driver. I'm hoping we can carry that momentum over to our mile-and-a-half program with the team at Front Row Motorsports.”
The No. 38 Berry’s Bullets Ford Mustang will make its debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, Feb. 21 for practice. The NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas will air Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3:30 p.m. on FOX and PRN.
For more information about Berry’s Bullets, visit berrysmfg.com.
About Berry’s Bullets
For over 55 years, Berry's Bullets has been producing superior bullets for shooters everywhere. Established in 1961 by Ray Berry, Berry's is still family-owned and operated today. At the age of 18, Gilbert Berry took over the business for his father Ray after an industrial accident forced Ray into early retirement. After 40 years of hard work and dedication to making Berry's the preferred choice for superior quality bullets in the shooting and ammunition industries, Gilbert has retired and turned the reins over to his son Tony. Tony Berry's vision of providing quality products and services to our customers is right in line with his father's. By sticking to the core beliefs of faith, family, and hard work, Berry's will continue to be a pillar of excellence in the arena of shooting products.
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/
Post-Race Report: Daytona
No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang
Started: 23rd
Finished: 11th
- Stage One: 15th
- Stage Two: 23rd
- Stage Three: 11th
- John Hunter Nemechek started his first Daytona 500 in 25th place. However, he was not able to run many laps as a full-time Cup Series driver before the skies opened up and the race was postponed until Monday. After a nearly 24-hour rain delay, Nemechek restarted the race in 37th place. He pitted once the engines had been refired for fuel and four tires. The focus for much of Stage 1 was to keep out of trouble, staying towards the back of the pack. After a caution on lap 58, Nemechek pitted for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment on Lap 60, hoping to alleviate a tight-handling racecar. By the end of the stage, Nemechek managed to make his way up to P15 and pitted under the stage break caution to take fuel only.
- As the sun set on a warm day in Daytona, the handling of Nemechek’s No. 38 CITGARD Ford improved. He, along with David Ragan and teammate Michael McDowell, settled in around mid-pack for the remainder of Stage 2, where Nemechek finished P23.
- Nemechek managed to keep his nose clean until Lap 184 when he was involved in a wreck and hit from behind, sending him into the wall. He sustained damage to the deck lid and splitter. Nemechek also sustained possible tow damage, which likely caused the car to handle much tighter and made the steering wheel difficult to turn. With repairs from the No. 38 CITGARD crew, he was able to stay on the lead lap for the last 15 laps of the race. Nemechek finished P11 after navigating a scary crash at the front of the field on the final lap.
Nemechek on Daytona: "It was a great way to start off my Rookie year in the Cup Series. We had a solid day in our No. 38 CITGARD Ford Mustang, being able to stay out of trouble early. We eventually got caught up in one wreck late in the race but still managed to get a solid P11 day after the guys were able to fix the car. We made the most with what we had today. We were hoping for a little bit better result but, overall it was a good way to start the points off for our Front Row Motorsports team. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ryan Newman, his family and our teammates at Roush Fenway after that awful wreck. I was very relieved to hear that his injuries were not life-threatening."
Fire Alarm Services Announces New Partnership with Front Row Motorsports
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 3, 2020) - Fire Alarm Services, Inc. (FAS), a leader in fire, life safety, and security services, will team up with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and the No. 38 Ford Mustang team driven by John Hunter Nemechek in 2020. FAS will serve as the primary partner for the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year contender at Martinsville Speedway in May, Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, Daytona International Speedway in August and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway in November. The brand will also be a major associate partner on Nemechek's No. 38 Ford throughout the season.
Based in Colorado, FAS provides a single, streamlined source for all fire alarm, electrical, security and fire suppression needs. The organization provides service on a wide range of systems in all 50 states and employs the finest service technicians in the industry. FAS has been a supporter of Nemechek since 2016, serving as his partner in several NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoor Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Races throughout the 22-year-old's career.
"We're thrilled to take our investment with John Hunter to Front Row Motorsport and the NASCAR Cup Series," said Shannon Smith, Owner, FAS. "He has continued to impress us both in the car and away from the track and we're looking forward to his first full year in the Cup series."
"I'm thrilled to see FAS come on board with Front Row Motorsports this year," said Nemechek. "They have been a key part of my successful climb to the top level of our sport and I'm so thankful for the relationship that we've been able to build. Shannon and Connie Smith have high expectations for their customers and products and I'm glad that they continue to see us as part of that."
For more information about FAS, visit fasonline.cc.
About FAS
Fire Alarm Services, Inc. prides ourselves on providing our customers with one source for all of their fire alarm, electrical, security and fire suppression needs. We provide service on a wide range of systems and employ the finest service technicians in the industry. Fire Alarm Services, Inc. services Colorado and provides service coordination in all 50 states..
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/
CITGO Petroleum Corporation to Back John Hunter Nemechek in Rookie Season
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 28, 2020) - CITGARD, a member of the CITGO Petroleum Corporation family of brands, will return to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) for the 2020 season, expanding its partnership on the No. 38 Ford Mustang driven by NASCAR Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year contender, John Hunter Nemechek.
As a part of its expanded partnership, CITGARD will serve as the primary partner of Nemechek in his Daytona 500 debut in February. CITGARD will then return to the No. 38 Ford Mustang and Nemechek as the primary partner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in August, Bristol Motor Speedway in September and the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October. The brand will also be featured as an Associate Sponsor throughout the season."CITGO Petroleum is an iconic brand in NASCAR," said John Hunter Nemechek. "Growing up in NASCAR, everyone knows the colors of CITGO and the past two seasons the CITGARD brand has brought the company back into the sport with FRM. It's awesome to join their team and carry on their tradition and winning history. I can't wait to represent CITGARD in the Daytona 500. There is no better race to start this relationship."
CITGO Petroleum Corporation first teamed up with FRM with its CITGARD brand in 2018 at Darlington Raceway, which led to a three-race partnership in 2019. Continued success both on- and off-track, along with positive feedback from fans, led to an increased commitment with FRM in 2020.
"Our customers are NASCAR fans and have showed their support since our return to NASCAR with Front Row Motorsports over the past two seasons," said Brian Paulson, General Manager, Lubricants, CITGO Petroleum Corporation. "We are expanding our relationship in 2020 and including the sport's biggest day, the Daytona 500. We will be there with John Hunter Nemechek, who is a proven winner in every series he's competed in coming up to the Cup Series. We're looking forward to another successful season."
Fritz Sports & Event Enterprises will again oversee the partnership
"I'm thankful for everyone's support in making this partnership between Front Row Motorsports, John Hunter Nemechek and CITGARD a reality for 2020," said Fritz Sports & Event Enterprises CEO Doug Fritz. " CITGO has had a great relationship with Front Row Motorsports over the last couple of years and we are looking forward to an increased presence of CITGARD on the track throughout the upcoming season."
About CITGARD
CITGARD Synthetic Blend Engine Oils deliver the performance needed for newer engine designs while improving performance in older engines. It is engineered with proprietary additive technology that protects engines running at higher operating temperatures and higher fuel injection pressures, while meeting tighter wear limits and lower emission requirements. CITGARD 700 is a new generation of engine oils that support the Phase II fuel efficiency standards which are driving the need for even more fuel efficient heavy duty engine oils combined with excellent wear protection and engine durability.
CITGARD Synthetic Blend Engine Oils deliver the performance needed for newer engine designs while improving performance in older engines. It is engineered with proprietary additive technology that protects engines running at higher operating temperatures and higher fuel injection pressures, while meeting tighter wear limits and lower emission requirements. CITGARD 700 is a new generation of engine oils that support the Phase II fuel efficiency standards which are driving the need for even more fuel efficient heavy duty engine oils combined with excellent wear protection and engine durability.
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/
Homestead-Miami Recap
START: 6th
FINISH: 6th
POINTS: 7th
Notes & Quotes:
- Nemechek started the race from the 6th-position and made his way into the fifth-position to finish out Stage One. The GMS Racing team elected for Nemechek not to pit. Nemechek raced within the top-10 to finish Stage Two in the seventh-position. Nemechek came to pit road for four tires, fuel, and a wedge adjustment and restarted the final stage in the seventh-position. Racing in ninth-position a caution occurred on lap 124, Nemechek reported to the No. 23 team that he was free on exit and came to pit road for four tires and fuel. Still holding his position in the top-10, the GMS Racing team called for Nemechek to pit road under green with 39 laps to go for four tires and fuel and raced his way into the sixth-position where he finished the race.
-Nemechek accumulated six top-five's and 19 top-10's in his first full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
"Our goal was to finish the season strong and that's what we did. We had this strong momentum run too late though, we didn't finish lower than sixth-place the past four races or so. Overall, this year was a rollercoaster ride emotions but I think being a small single-car team, we did pretty well. I don't know what my future holds yet but I will always be grateful for the opportunity that Maury Gallagher gave me to run full-time for GMS. Thank you to all of my sponsors that made this year possible. I am grateful and cannot wait to see what's next for me."