Post-Race Report: Pocono
No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang
Started: 20th
Finished: 24th
- Stage One: 26th
- Stage Two: 27th
- Stage Three: 24th
- Following a short weather delay, John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag in Saturday's race at Pocono Raceway in the 20th position. He noted early on that his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang was tight in all corners, and particularly rough going over the bumps in Turn 2. At the competition caution, Nemechek took 4 tires, fuel and a significant track bar adjustment to try and free up his racecar. By the time he finished Stage 1 in 26th place, he said the adjustments helped but he still needed to be freer.
- Nemechek stayed out under the Stage Break Caution. Despite needing to be freer, Nemechek managed to crack his way into the top 10 as Stage 2 got underway. During a cycle of green flag pit stops, Crew Chief Seth Barbour made the call for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment to continue freeing up Nemechek's No. 38 Death Wish Coffee machine. On Lap 64, Nemechek got loose underneath while passing the No. 27 car and made contact, bringing out a caution for debris. Luckily, Nemechek sustained only minor damage. After a round of repairs, he took the green- and-white checkered flag in the 27th position.
- Nemechek had a quiet Final Stage in his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang. He radioed on Lap 90 that his handling was "possibly still a touch tight." He continued to struggle with that tightness through the rest of the race, crossing the finish line in 24th place.
Nemechek on Pocono:
- “We fired off pretty tight in our No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang today at Pocono. We made some adjustments to try and free it up and made some progress, but I just got loose under the 27 at one point, and slid up into him a little. We still struggled toward the end of the race and needed to be freer on our runs, but we made some good notes for tomorrow. Really appreciate our partners at Death Wish Coffee and Rich Mar Florist for coming on board with us this weekend and I'm glad we have another chance tomorrow for a great finish."
John Hunter Nemechek Doubles Down with Death Wish Coffee at Pocono
NEMECHEK TALKS POCONO:
"I'm so ready to get back in the car after our run in Talladega. We came so close to winning and as a driver, that's what you crave more than anything.
"Pocono is a challenging track to start with and it's hard to get your setup right in all three corners even when you do have practice and qualifying. It will be interesting to see how everyone approaches the weekend, but our Front Row Motorsports team has done a great job getting our cars ready at the shop. Luckily, we'll have two chances to try to get to Victory Lane.
"Death Wish Coffee is back on our No. 38 Ford Mustang for both races at Pocono. They've been a great partner for a long time and they've got some really cool contests coming out for people to win free coffee and other swag. It's cool to see them stepping up their partnership and I'm looking forward to getting them a win this weekend.”
Nemechek Earns Career-Best Finish, Rookie of the Race at Talladega
Started: 22nd
Finished: 8th
- Stage One: 16th
- Stage Two: 14th
- Stage Three: 8th
- John Hunter Nemechek started Monday's rain-delayed race at Talladega Superspeedway in the 22nd position following a random draw to determine the starting lineup. The handling on his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang was "kind of all over the place" in the early parts of the race and the team made a wedge adjustment and added grille tape during the Competition Caution to try to give him more stability. Towards the end of Stage 1, Nemechek reported that he was a bit tight, particularly off of Turn 2, where the wind had picked up. Shortly after reporting that, the skies opened up and the race was paused for nearly an hour under Red Flag conditions. Once the cars refired, Nemechek finished Stage 1 in 16th place.
- As Stage 2 got underway, Nemechek noted that his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang was "tight running the bottom in traffic." On Lap 94, he had a tire going down, which caused him to spin on the frontstretch, bringing out a caution. Nemechek would pit several times for the crew to change tires and assess (minimal) damage. Once the race restarted, Nemechek managed to battle his way into the top 10 at times, reporting that he was still "a little snug, but not bad." He would go on to finish Stage 2 in the 14th position.
- With rain no longer a factor, John Hunter Nemechek settled in for the Final Stage. By Lap 134, Nemechek did not have any issues to note with his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee machine. He radioed that the car was pretty good and that he was "just trying not to be in the middle of the mess" with about 50 laps to go in the race. It was going to be a close call on fuel, but with a caution on Lap 185, Nemechek was able to pit to top up on fuel. In a thrilling final lap, Nemechek made contact with another car just before the start-finish line, but still took the checkered flag in the 8th position, his career-best finish thus far. He also finished highest among the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year candidates, earning him the "Rookie of the Race" award.
Nemechek on Talladega:
- “We had a really great run in our No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang today. I really thought we had a shot at it at the end there, but I'm still proud of our entire team's efforts. When we fired off, we were kind of tight, and then we had that tire go down in the second stage, but we managed to come back from it and battled into the top 10 by the end. I wish we would have won that thing, but a P8 finish at Talladega is still good for us and I want to thank everyone on the team for their support. I'm looking forward to giving Death Wish Coffee another chance at the checkered flag at Pocono."
Ready for ‘Dega with Death Wish Coffee
NEMECHEK TALKS TALLADEGA:
"I'm looking forward to racing at Talladega this weekend and continuing to have fans attend our events. It's been really strange not having spectators in the stands these last few weeks. As a driver, the energy of the crowd helps get you pumped up for the race and it helps create an exciting atmosphere. I've missed that.
"Front Row Motorsports has always had a strong program at Talladega. We started the season strong with a good run at Daytona, so hopefully we can have a repeat performance for an even better finish this weekend.
"We have Death Wish Coffee on the car for the second race in a row and I'm excited to have them back. They're kicking off a new contest this weekend where fans can win free coffee and signed merchandise, so I'd encourage everyone to check out their website and social media channels. We're both excited for this partnership and looking forward to a great run.”
Post-Race Report: Homestead
No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang
Started: 18th
Finished: 19th
- Stage One: 21st
- Stage Two: 22nd
- Stage Three: 19th
- John Hunter Nemechek started Sunday's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the 18th position following a random draw to determine the starting lineup. Shortly after the green flag, a weather delay (lightning) came that lasted a little over two hours. After a brief green flag run, Nemechek noted that his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang was tight and at the Competition Caution, he took 4 tires, fuel, a wedge adjustment and grille tape. Another lightning hold delayed the race for close to 40 minutes. Once cars refired, Nemechek tried to get into a rhythm but still said the car was tight. He finished Stage 1 in the 21st position.
- At the Stage Break Caution, Nemechek pitted for 4 tires and fuel with a track bar adjustment and some more grille tape. After a few laps, he said the track bar adjustment made a positive difference, but as Stage 2 progressed, his Death Wish Coffee machine lacked front grip and was too tight. He would take the green- and white-checkered flag to end Stage 2 in 22nd place.
- Nemechek was able to find a good rhythm in the Final Stage and spent most of his time inside of the top-20. The handling on his No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang also loosened up as the evening went on. Nemechek remained quiet on the radio for much of the third and final stage and despite a right front tire going down on the last lap, went on to finish the race in 19th place.
Nemechek on Homestead:
- “We had a solid night in our No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang. We fired off pretty tight and battled with that for probably two-thirds of the race. The crew was lightning fast on pit road all night long and we managed to get the car a little bit freer towards the third stage. We would have finished a few spots higher but I had a right front tire go down on the last lap. We still were able to get a top-20, which is another solid result for us. Thanks to our partners at Death Wish Coffee for coming on board. Looking forward to having them back with us next week in Talladega."
Death Wish Coffee to Give John Hunter Nemechek a Jolt in 2020
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 11, 2020) - John Hunter Nemechek's No. 38 Ford Mustang will have a new look when it rolls into Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend thanks to Death Wish Coffee Company, a privately-owned coffee manufacturer. The company will serve as the primary sponsor for Nemechek's Front Row Motorsports (FRM) entry in Sunday's event and at six other races this season, including events at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Michigan International Speedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Death Wish Coffee is created by using the strongest combination of beans and a perfect roasting process. Founded in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the World's Strongest Coffee has been fueling consumers since 2012. The signature skull and crossbones emblem has ridden on the hood of several of Nemechek's racecars since 2014.
"At Death Wish Coffee, we fuel passionate people wherever they go," said Mike Brown, CEO of Death Wish Coffee. "NASCAR has such a passionate fanbase and we've really enjoyed our involvement with the sport. We're excited to continue our partnership with John Hunter Nemechek in his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series."
"Death Wish Coffee has been a great partner over the last few years," said Nemechek. "You're always glad to see a company like theirs come on board and stick with you as a driver, moving up through the ranks. Our Front Row Motorsports team has been really fast lately, and hopefully having 'The World's Strongest Coffee' will give us a boost into Victory Lane."
The No. 38 Death Wish Coffee Ford Mustang will make its debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, June 14. The NASCAR Cup Series race will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and MRN.
For more information about Death Wish Coffee, visit DeathWishCoffee.com.
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, thousands of people trust Death Wish Coffee to wake them up and keep them going every day. 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/ FrontRowMotorsports.
Post-Race Report: Martinsville
No. 38 Fire Alarm Services, Inc. Ford Mustang
Started: 18th
Finished: 25th
- Stage One: 21st
- Stage Two: 18th
- Stage Three: 25th
- John Hunter Nemechek took the green flag in Wednesday's race at Martinsville Speedway in the 18th position. He quickly radioed that his No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang was "super loose center" and that the car "wants to over-rotate." He pitted under caution for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, which he said helped. By the time he took the green- and white-checkered flag to end Stage 1 in 21st position, Nemechek said the car "turned center pretty well."
- For much of Stage 2, Nemechek noted that his No. 38 FAS machine was "free on entry" but "tight center off." The crew made additional packer and track bar adjustments under caution in an effort to improve Nemechek's handling as the race went on and track conditions changed under the lights. Nemechek fought hard to stay inside of the top 20 for most of Stage 2 and finished P18.
- At the beginning of the final stage, Nemechek noted that his FAS Ford Mustang was still too loose and he "needed lateral drive." Under caution on Lap 325, Nemechek pitted for 4 tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, which he said helped, but continued to battle a loose-handling racecar for much of the final stage. He would take the checkered flag 25th on the leaderboard.
Nemechek on Martinsville:
- “It was a tough night for our No. 38 FAS Ford Mustang. We fired off pretty loose and Seth and the crew tried to make adjustments as the night went on, but we weren't able to get it to where we needed. My team worked hard and I'm proud of the effort everyone continues to put in each and every week. Big thanks to Fire Alarm Services for continuing to support us. We'll take our learnings and head to Homestead on Sunday."
John Hunter Nemechek Teams Up with FAS at Martinsville
NEMECHEK TALKS MARTINSVILLE:
"Martinsville is a really fun and unique track. It's somewhere that I've done really well. I made my debut there in the Truck Series when I was 16 and won there a few years ago. I like Martinsville a lot; we've gotten along well together in the past and I feel like our Front Row Motorsports team is strong on short tracks. We want to be able to capitalize on our opportunities throughout the day so that we can be contenders and have a strong finish at the end. We've got FAS back on board our No. 38 Ford Mustang this week. It's the first time they've been on track with us in person since Fontana, so I'm looking forward to putting on a good show for them.”
Post-Race Report: Atlanta
No. 38 YANMAR America Ford Mustang
Started: 18th
Finished: 23rd
- Stage One: 29th
- Stage Two: 24th
- Stage Three: 23rd
- John Hunter Nemechek started Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway from the 18th position. Early on, he struggled with the handling in his No. 38 YANMAR America Ford Mustang, noting that he was very loose, to the point of driving "sideways through the corner." Nemechek lost control and spun coming off of Turn 4 on Lap 94. Thankfully, he avoided contact and sustained minimal damage. The crew made various wedge, packer and track bar adjustments throughout Stage 1, but Nemechek continued to struggle, taking the green- and white-checkered flag in 29th place.
- During Stage 2, the No. 38 YANMAR America Ford Mustang continued to be loose, particularly when Nemechek ran the top line around the track. Seth Barbour and the crew attempted to improve the car's handling with adjustments to tire pressure, wedge and packer during pit stops in Stage 2. Nemechek radioed on Lap 186 that he was "tight on entry and loose off," and by the end of the run, he said he still needed to be tightened up. He finished Stage 2 in the 24th position and pitted for 4 tires, fuel, and wedge and packer adjustments.
- Nemechek started the final stage at the rear of the field, receiving a penalty for removing equipment (fuel can) during his pit stop at the Stage Break Caution. He kept quiet over the radio for much of the stage, but still felt the handling of his No. 38 YANMAR America Ford Mustang was too loose. Nemechek crossed the finish line in 23rd place, two laps down.
Nemechek on Atlanta:
- “We had a challenging day in our No. 38 YANMAR America Ford Mustang. Wish we could have had a better result for our partners at YANMAR at their home track. It was a difficult day from the start. We fired off really loose and the car just kind of stepped out on me early on. Managed to avoid contact and damage, and we kept trying to tighten up the handling, but we just couldn't find that sweet spot. I'm proud of my team for never giving up. We'll go get 'em in Martinsville."
Nemechek Ready for YANMAR America’s Hometown Race in Atlanta
NEMECHEK ON ATLANTA:
"Atlanta is a fun track. It’s going to be hot and slick, which is my favorite kind of race. Atlanta is known for its rough and weathered surface, which I think is what makes for such great racing. You can run the top, bottom and middle and you can continue to move around to find grip as the race goes on. We had YANMAR America on board with us before the COVID-19 pandemic started, and it’s great that we’ll be able to return to their home track this weekend. Our team has been making strides over the last few weeks and our performance continues to improve. I’m looking forward to continuing the momentum we’ve built up over the last couple of weeks with our No. 38 YANMAR Ford Mustang on Sunday."
About YANMAR America
YANMAR America Corporation, located in Adairsville, GA, is the regional headquarters of YANMAR Co., Ltd. a global company based in Osaka, Japan. YANMAR Co., Ltd. was established in 1912, and in 1933 became the world's first manufacturer to develop a practical small diesel engine. Today, YANMAR is a recognized leader in the design and manufacturing of advanced performance diesel engines and diesel-powered equipment, as well as gas engine-based energy systems. By focusing on the development of highly efficient diesel engines, YANMAR remains committed to their mission statement of providing sustainable solutions for modern power needs.
YANMAR America Corporation is located at 101 International Parkway, Adairsville, GA 30103. For more information Visit yanmar.com/us and follow them on social media: Twitter at @YanmarAmerica, Instagram at @YanmarAmerica and Facebook at Facebook.com/YanmarAmerica.