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 Leaving Room for Another Nashville Guitar
John Hunter Nemechek captured one of the most coveted trophies in short track racing, the Nashville guitar, when he dominated the 30th Annual All American 400 last November. After that race, the 17-year-old from Mooresville, North Carolina admitted he hadn’t played an instrument since elementary school, but said he would consider learning the guitar.
Needless to say, his busy schedule juggling school, work in the NEMCO Motorsports shop, racing Super Late Models and racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series kept him away from taking guitar lessons over the past five months. But that doesn’t mean that he’s not itching to add another guitar to his wall when he visits Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville (TN) again this Saturday, April 11 for the 100-lap Southern Super Series event.
“I’m really happy that we’re going back. I didn’t think I was going to be able to run Nashville this year,” said Nemechek, who will compete full-time on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series circuit once he turns 18 on June 11. “We won the All American 400 there last year and t has been a great race track for us as a team. We’ve put in a lot of work at the shop and I think we’re going to be strong this weekend.”
In addition to his win at the All American 400, Nemechek crossed the finish line first during last year’s Southern Super Series event at the historic Nashville oval before being disqualified in post-race technical inspection for an overlooked part. Although he considered the All American 400 win to be redemption, he’d still like to capture a Super Late Model win at the track this weekend.
“I feel like winning in a Super is going to mean just as much after what happened last year,” Nemechek said. “I feel like going back with the Southern Super Series and getting that chance to win again there and show that it wasn’t for an overlooked part. Just to be able to go back there in a Super and win would mean a lot to the team. The All American 400 was definitely a redemption win, but to go back and win in a Super would mean just as much.”
Despite his team’s recent success at Nashville, Nemechek knows that the 5/8-mile Tennessee oval can be tricky. Because of that, he and his NEMCO Motorsports No. 8 team will be on their toes all weekend long to make sure they’re in a good position for Saturday’s 100-lap feature.
“Nashville changes 24-7,” stated Nemechek. “The race track changes and how the car handles changes, but overall it’s a fun race track. You just have to stay on top of your game all weekend. You can’t let frustration or a bad practice session get to you. You know what you’re going to have for the race and that’s what means more. It’s the race winner that everyone remembers.”
After leading 294 of 300 laps with his Pro Late Model at the All American 400, Nemechek believes his team has a setup for Nashville that will allow them to be fast right off the hauler. From that point on he’s hoping that the team will be able to focus specifically on the changes needed to get the car fast enough to win the race.
“We’ll go back to a pretty close setup from what we had at All American last year,” said Nemechek. “I feel like transferring it over to the Super and having that good long run car is something that we’d benefit greatly from. I feel like we have a good setup for Nashville, so we’ll plug that back in and get it pretty much back to where we were in the Spring and Fall last year.”
Although Nemechek has yet to have the opportunity to learn how to play his trophy guitar, he still sees it every day hanging up in the NEMCO Motorsports shop. With an empty space next to it, he has plenty of motivation to go out and win another one this Saturday.
“It’s hanging on the wall in a case. You look at it every day when you walk by and kind of remember what went on. It’s hanging up for everyone to see and it is definitely motivation. All of our trophies here are motivation for us to look at and want to put more up on the shelf.”
Lady Luck Not on Nemechek's Side at South Alabama
John Hunter Nemechek had two cars capable of winning two races this past weekend at South Alabama Speedway, but lady luck wasn't on his side. Nemechek experienced overheating issues during the Baby Rattler on Saturday night before suffering a flat right rear tire while battling in the top-five during Sunday's Rattler 250, relegating him to a 16th-place finish.
The tough couple of days in Opp, Alabama have only left Nemechek hungrier for better results. The next time the 17-year-old will be behind the wheel will be when he makes his 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut.
Nemechek will strap back into his NEMCO Motorsports No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado for the Kroger 250 NCWTS event on Saturday, March 28. Fans can tune in to the event live on FOX Sports 1 at 2:30pm ET. Stay tuned to www.johnhunternemechek.com for more on his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start of the 2015 season.
Nemechek Hoping to Get Acquainted with a Rattlesnake at Rattler 250
For the first time in more than one month, John Hunter Nemechek will be back behind the wheel of his No. 8 Chevrolet Pro Late Model and Super Late Model this weekend at South Alabama Speedway. Riding a streak of momentum from strong Late Model finishes dating back to late 2014, the 17-year-old rising NASCAR star will be competing in the Southern Super Series season-opening Rattler 250 on Sunday, March 15, as well as the "Baby Rattler" Pro Late Model preliminary feature on Saturday.
“Getting back to the Rattler, I’m excited,” said Nemechek. “We should have won the Pro Late Model race last year and we had a good Super (Late Model) but ended up getting involved in a wreck.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the Pro Late Model and Super Late Model this weekend. We’ve been working very hard on them trying to get them better than they already were at SpeedFest and at the (Snowball) Derby. We’re just trying to stay ahead.”
Nemechek captured the checkered flag in two of short track racing's most prestigious races, the Pro Late Model All-American 400 at Nashville (TN) in November and the Snowball Derby Super Late Model 300-lap race at Florida's Five Flags Speedway in December. He followed those victories up with a win in the Pro Late Model portion of SpeedFest at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA) in January and a strong run battling for the win in the SpeedFest Super Late Model feature before being involved in an incident late.
Needless to say, the Mooresville, North Carolina driver has quite a bit of momentum and confidence on his side as he looks to add another prestigious Late Model win to his already impressive resume.
“I think that we will be up front,” Nemchek said confidently. “I feel like we will be in contention to be able to win both races. I have only run at South Alabama Speedway once and I feel like we have a good group of guys behind me.
“There’s definitely a little bit of confidence going in, but you can’t take anything for granted. You have to keep looking at it as, ‘Okay, this is our next race and we’re going to work on it harder to get better.’ That’s kind of how we look at it week in and week out.”
Throughout the weekend at South Alabama Speedway, which begins on Thursday with an optional practice session, Nemechek will be working with the team’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series crew chief Gere Kennon to dial in his machines at a track that he’s only visited on one occasion.
Nemechek’s only start at South Alabama Speedway came just one year ago at The Rattler. He finished third in the Baby Rattler (Pro Late Model) after leading 47 laps, but was then caught up in an accident while running up front during the Rattler 250. Despite the tough luck last year, Nemechek believes he learned enough about the track and the race itself to compete for wins once again this time around.
“You just have to be there at the end. You have to save your tires and save your equipment to the best of your ability so that you can be up front when it counts,” he said. “Last year was a huge survival game just trying to survive so you could be there at the end. This year I think it’s going to be the same way, but there are a lot of heavy hitters going down there. Whoever can save their equipment to the best of their ability and be there at the end is going to be the one winning the race.”
During his time stacking up wins on the Late Model scene, Nemechek has been able to experience some of the most unique traditions in short track racing. He has strummed the guitar at the All-American 400 and he has held the coveted Tom Dawson trophy at the Snowball Derby. But the tradition at the Rattler 250 is like no other. If he gets to victory lane, Nemechek will be greeted by an Alabama rattlesnake that will be put around his neck during post-race ceremonies.
“We’ll handle it,” Nemechek said with a laugh. “I’m not a huge fan of snakes, but to win the Rattler and have a rattlesnake wrapped around you is an amazing accomplishment. But most of my guys will be running the other way screaming like little girls.
“We’ll definitely stand there and deal with a rattlesnake for winning that race.”
For more information on John Hunter Nemechek, visit www.johnhunternemchek.com and follow him on Twitter at @JHNemechek.
Nemechek Starts Off 2015 With SpeedFest Victory
Mooresville, N.C. (January 27, 2015) -- After winning the Snowball Derby in December, John Hunter Nemechek had momentum on his side as he traveled down to Cordele, Georgia for SpeedFest 2015 at Watermelon Capital Speedway. Nemechek was looking to sweep the weekend, which included a 125-lap JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race and 200-lap ARCA/CRA Super Series race, at the 3/8-mile oval.
He left the 3/8-mile Georgia oval with a win in the Pro Late Model 125 and a 10th-place finish in the Super Late Model event.
The Mooresville, NC native was fast in both cars all weekend long, setting fast time for the PLM event and qualifying fourth for the SLM race (started second after the invert).
He drew the worst pill possible to decide the invert for the PLM race and as a result he started 10th with his biggest competition, Bubba Pollard, to his inside.
Nemechek would battle with Pollard as they made their way forward through the field and eventually into the battle for the lead.
"I've started from the worst pill-draw more times than not when I've been running Late Models," said Nemechek. "I knew we had a fast enough car to get to the front. It was just a matter of how long it was going to take to get there. Bubba started right beside me on the inside so I knew we were going to go through the field together. It was just going to be about who didn't burn their stuff up."
Nemechek won the battle after getting a great restart with just a few laps to go. He scored the win in the Pro Late Model race, continuing his dominance in that type of car dating back to last season, but Nemechek said the win definitely didn’t come easy.
"We worked hard for that win," said the NEMCO Motorsports driver. "The restarts were tough. Whoever was going to get by was going to win the race. Pollard and I have had some fierce, good, hard battles. We've done it for the past two years when I've been running Late Models against him so it was definitely a fun race. He made me work for it."
Nemechek and Pollard found themselves battling for the win again late in the SLM race, but the pair tangled and had to settle for top-10 finishes.
Even though the finish wasn't what he wanted, Nemechek is thrilled to know that his team's Super Late Model program is continuing to get stronger.
"We made major gains at the end of last year and the beginning of this year," he said. "We were definitely fast last year and we were in contention to win. We did everything that we needed to do as a team. It's almost gotten to the point where our Pro Late Model program is."
Now Nemechek and his team are focused on The Rattler 250 weekend at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, Alabama on March 14 and 15, and he'll be bringing both race cars once again.
"I definitely had a fun time racing down there last year," said Nemechek. "It was a new track for me to learn. It's definitely a unique track. We'll be looking to try to sweep the weekend again like we were at SpeedFest."
Nemechek Puts Away the Tools, Begins 2015 Campaign at SpeedFest
One would think that after winning the Snowball Derby, the biggest Late Model race in North America, John Hunter Nemechek would have been afforded some time to relax and celebrate for a few weeks. But as those involved in the sport of stock car racing know, winning doesn’t happen without hard work and preparation.
Just a few short days after celebrating the team’s Snowball Derby win in Pensacola, Florida, Nemechek, his father Joe and the NEMCO Motorsports team were right back in their Mooresville, North Carolina shop prepping hard for the 2015 season. After a brief but busy offseason, Nemechek will now begin his jam-packed 2015 campaign this weekend during Speedfest 2015 at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia.
"The minute we got back from the Derby we were working on trucks and looking ahead to the next race," said Nemechek. "The Derby is in the back of our minds. It always will be. But we are looking forward to this weekend and going down there, working hard and getting our cars right. Hopefully all the hard work pays off and we will be able to pick up another a win."
NEMCO Motorsports recently announced that they were changing manufacturers for both their Late Model and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series programs, switching from Toyota to Chevrolet. The switch has caused some extra work for Nemechek and his team.
"We're trying to get the Trucks ready to go to the wind tunnel and Daytona and Atlanta and trying to get Late Model stuff ready. It's been hectic," Nemechek said. "Last year it was a little bit simpler. It wasn't as bad because we had trucks ready from the year before that. It's pretty much been totally different (this year). The offseason is always hectic. You (usually) have your downtime in December and then all hell breaks loose the first day of January."
Despite the busy schedule working in the team’s shop, Nemechek wouldn’t want it any other way. He says that staying active in the shop allows him to stay focused on racing and gives him the feeling of a shorter offseason.
"We're racing a month after the Derby, but a month is actually too long," he said. "The shorter the offseason the better it is."
Now, just over a month since his Snowball Derby win, Nemechek is itching to get back behind the wheel of a race car. Thankfully for him, he'll get the chance to race, twice, this weekend at the 3/8-mile D-shaped oval in Georgia, and he has just one thing on his mind.
"We aren't points racing so whatever we have to do to win, we are going to do," Nemechek said. "That pretty much goes for the whole year with the Late Model deal. I won't be running for points anywhere so we are running to win."
Nemechek is the defending winner of the Pro Late Model 125 at Speedfest. He's looking to defend that title this weekend as well as claim the checkered flag at the end of the Super Late Model 200 by using the momentum he gained at the end of 2014.
"I definitely think that we have some momentum going in there," said Nemechek, also the winner of the 2014 All-American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville (TN). "Having momentum and winning races is definitely a confidence booster. We just won two of the biggest Late Model races that there are. I feel like our guys are still pumped up about that."
For more information on John Hunter Nemechek, visit www.johnhunternemchek.com and follow him on Twitter at @JHNemechek.
2014 NEMCO Motorsports Year in Review
2014 was by far one of the most anticipated years for everyone at NEMCO Motorsports as they began their first full season racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). Announcing a partnership with Sid and Dawna Mauldin of Pampa, TX and with support from their SWM International organization, SWM-NEMCO Motorsports took form.
It was an exciting year for NEMCO drivers as well. Joe and John Hunter Nemechek reached a new summit in not only their relationship as father and son, but as racing teammates. For the first time in NASCAR history, a father and son duo shared the same ride and in their first year as a team, combined for a total of two top-five (one each) and 15 top-10 finishes en route to a seventh-place finish in owner standings.
In addition to their NASCAR program, NEMCO continued to develop their Pro and Super late model program as well starting the year off in fine fashion with a pro late model victory by John Hunter at the Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA in January.
Joe kicked off the NASCAR season in the No. 8 truck at Daytona International Speedway in February with an eighth-place effort, followed by John Hunter’s 11th-place performance at Martinsville Speedway in March.
Joe took the next two stints logging a ninth and 11th at Kansas Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway respectively and John Hunter turned in the first of many exciting performances picking up his career-best finish of sixth at Dover International Speedway. Joe one-upped him with his third-place run and first laps led of the season at Texas, just to be challenged by John Hunter’s head-turning performance at Gateway Motorsports Park where he led 53 of 160 laps. A late-race altercation relegated him to a 15th-place finish.
The middle portion of the season would bring a 14th at Kentucky Speedway, two consecutive 10th-place runs at Pocono Raceway and Michigan Speedway and a ninth-place performance at Chicagoland Speedway for Joe, while John Hunter collected a 10th, sixth, 25th and another sixth-place finish at Iowa Speedway, Eldora Speedway, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and Bristol Motor Speedway, respectively.
The action heated up again in September as 17-year old John Hunter captured his first NCWTS career top-five at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His final two races brought finishes of 13th and seventh at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway, while Joe rounded out the season with a 17th and 10th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, as well as eighth-place runs in each of his final two events at Texas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
John Hunter stayed busy with late model racing while free from NASCAR duties and picked up four additional Pro Late Model wins at Milwaukee Mile, Lucas Oil Raceway Park and Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. His crowning achievement of the season came on December 7 when he claimed his biggest victory to date, winning the prestigious Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL. It was his first Super late model career win.
2014 also brought expansion to NEMCO by way of a new driver for the late model division. In October, it was announced that 19-year old Dominique Van Wieringen would join the team beginning with the Snowflake 100 during the Derby weekend in December where she raced to a 14th-place finish. Hailing from Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, Dominique is currently pursuing her Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and is in her sophomore year. She will run select Pro and Super late model events under the NEMCO banner in 2015 as she continues both her studies and her progression in racing.
Early 2015 brought news of a complete transition to Chevrolet for NEMCO Motorsports as well as another twist to the dynamic of the father-son NCWTS effort. With John Hunter turning 18 in June, he will be cleared by NASCAR to compete on all tracks and will take over the remainder of the events in the No. 8 Silverado. This paves the way for a much anticipated on-track battle between the two as Joe plans to run select events in the second half of the season in his familiar No. 87. NEMCO Motorsports will field entries for Joe to compete in select Xfinity Series races in 2015 as well.
NEMCO MOTORSPORTS TO PARTNER WITH CHEVROLET STARTING IN 2015
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 9, 2015)—NEMCO Motorsports will reunite with Chevrolet as Joe Nemechek and John Hunter Nemechek join Team Chevy beginning with the 2015 NASCAR season. NEMCO Motorsports' teams will compete with Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). In addition, the NEMCO Motorsports Late Model program will also feature the iconic manufacturer.
The move to Chevrolet represents a return for NEMCO Motorsports, as team owner Joe Nemechek raced with Chevrolet from 1991 to 2011. Through three of NASCAR’s top national touring series (Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Camping World Truck Series) with Chevrolet, Nemechek and NEMCO Motorsports have earned 19 victories (18 in the Xfinity Series and one in the Camping World Truck Series) and 15 pole positions (14 in the Xfinity Series and one in the Camping World Truck Series).
Joe Nemechek is excited about the move to Chevrolet.
“We look forward to joining the Chevrolet NASCAR program this season," he said. “I've had a long-term relationship with Chevrolet for the majority of my career and I look forward to continuing that relationship.”
Nemechek won 18 races with the manufacturer since he first began fielding Chevrolets in the Xfinity Series in 1991, and winning the 1992 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver and owner championship en route to the manufacturers' championship for Chevrolet.
In 2015, John Hunter Nemechek returns to the No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet, sharing driving duties with his father until he turns 18-years old, when he plans to compete in the remainder of the truck series schedule beginning at Kentucky Speedway on July 9.
The No. 8 has 153 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts with Chevrolet, including 27 starts with his uncle, the late, John Nemechek, an aspiring driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The NEMCO Motorsports’ switch to Chevrolet includes the conversion to ECR Engines to supply the team with horsepower for the 2015 season.
"This is a big step for our team and I look forward to working with Chevrolet and the guys at ECR Engines for a competitive season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," John Hunter Nemechek said. “I have never worked with them (ECR Engines) before, but I look forward to building a relationship with them and running up front in 2015.”
JH Sits Down with Bob Dillner for Derby Winner's Video
From Speed51.com:
Just two hours after winning his first career Snowball Derby on Sunday evening, John Hunter Nemechek sat down with Speed51.com’s Bob Dillner in the grandstands at Five Flags Speedway to talk about winning the biggest short track racing event in North America. Nemechek discussed what it feels like to be a Snowball Derby winner, his relationship with his father Joe Nemechek and what it means to have his name forever engraved on the Tom Dawson trophy.
See the full interview by clicking play on the video player below.