Darlington Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek came back to Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2022 to continue winning races and did just that Friday night, picking up his first win of the season at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in the Dead on Tools 200.
Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team showed speed right off the hauler, topping the charts in practice and then followed that up by earning the pole with a lap time of 28.719 in Friday’s qualifying session.
The second-generation driver continued his strong showing by leading a race-high 69 laps in route to his 12th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. With the win, Nemechek moved up three spots in the Camping World Truck Series championships standings into second, just 30 points behind Ben Rhodes in first.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek earned the pole for the Dead on Tools 200 at Darlington Raceway after laying down a lap time of 28.719 in qualifying earlier in the day.
·        The Toyota Racing driver led the first 12 laps of the race before forfeiting the lead to the No. 38 of Zane Smith.
·        Differing pit strategies throughout the field put Nemechek back in the lead midway through the opening stanza.
·        Nemechek led the next 18 laps before his worn-out tires began to play a factor, falling back to sixth where he would take the green-and-white checkered to end Stage One.
Stage Two Recap:
·        At the stage break, Nemechek communicated that his Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro needed “more front turn”.
·        Early in the middle stanza, Nemechek brought his No. 4 Tundra down pit road under caution for an unscheduled pit with a loose left front wheel.
·        The No. 4 team put four fresh Goodyear Tires on and Nemechek was back into the top 20 just five laps after the restart.
·        Nemechek drove back through the field during the final 20 laps of the stage earned a fifth-place finish and six more stage points.
Final Stage Recap:
·        During the final stage break, Nemechek made contact with the No. 98 of Christian Eckes while exiting his pit stall but would not sustain any damage.
·        Despite the contact with Eckes, Nemechek lined up on the front row in second place to begin the final stage.
·        The second-generation driver regained the lead on Lap 107 just before the eighth caution of the day would come out on Lap 118. Veteran crew chief Eric Phillips would bring the No. 4 team down pit road for the team’.
·        Nemechek quickly regained the lead on Lap 123 and would hold control the remainder of the race.
·        A caution on Lap 143 while leading would set up a green-white-checkered finish with Nemechek lining up on the front row for the overtime restart with the No. 42 of Carson Hocevar.
·        Nemechek was able to clear Hocevar exiting Turn 2 and drive away to his first win of the 2022 campaign.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
How does it feel to get your first win of the season and first at Darlington Raceway?
“Huge shout out to all the guys that work on this No. 4 KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO, just Mobil 1 and everyone that puts their heart and soul into what's going on -- this is huge. Just thank you to everyone. Thank you to the fans. This place is packed. Awesome crowd. I thought we gave it away early honestly and we we're able to rebound and battle back so it's cool. Aspen (daughter) I think is sleeping so hopefully Taylor (wife) gets her up and brings her to victory lane so we can celebrate. Learned a lot tonight and was finally able to bring home the first one of the year. I'm just thankful for the opportunity I have from Kyle (Busch, team owner), Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) for putting me in this truck. Let's go celebrate.”
Dead on Tools 200 Recap
·        John Hunter Nemechek picked up his first win of the season and his 12th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Carson Hocevar, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, and Parker Kligerman rounded out the top-five finishers.
·        There were 10 cautions for 54 laps. There were 16 lead changes among nine drivers, including Nemechek who led a race-high 69 laps.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finish 20th.
·        Corey Heim, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 22nd.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek jumped three spots in the Camping World Truck Series championship standings and now sits in second, just 30 tallies behind ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first.
Next Race
Nemechek and the No. 4 team will look to keep their momentum rolling next week as the NASCAR Truck Series heads to Kansas Speedway on May 14. Live coverage will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 8 p.m. ET.

by jnemechek

Bristol Dirt Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek came from the 18th starting position to put the Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro in contention for the win the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night. The Toyota Racing driver battled for the lead with Carson Hocevar for much of the final stage until a late caution came out with 10 laps remaining. As the field went back green with five laps remaining, Nemechek was lined up on the inside of Hocevar but was unable to take over the lead, ultimately finishing in the race in third.
After disappointing results in the first three races of the 2022 season, Nemechek has rebounded by posting three straight top-five finishes.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek lined up 18th for the Saturday’s 150-lap event at Bristol based on the combination of his fifth-place finish and passing points earned in the fourth qualifying race.
·        The second-generation driver was unable to gain much ground throughout the opening stanza as he took the green-and-white checkered flag in 12th.
·        Nemechek came over the radio at the end of the stage and communicated that his No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro “needs to be tightened up a bit.”
Stage Two Recap:
·        During the stage break, Nemechek brought his Mobil 1 Toyota down pit road for a controlled pit stop where the No. 4 team executed a four-tire and fuel stop with a wedge adjustment to help with the handling.
·        As the field went back green for Stage Two, it took Nemechek only four laps to crack into the top-10 where he would remain for the remainder of the race.
·        Just past the midway point of the race, Nemechek started to gain on Cup Series regular Joey Logano for third place.
·        Nemechek and Logano continued to battle for third as Parker Kligerman made his way into the picture to create a three-way battle for third as the stage was winding down.
·        With less than five laps to go in the middle stanza, Nemechek completed the pass, ultimately finishing the stage in third and earning eight stage points.
Final Stage Recap:
·        Veteran crew chief Eric Phillips called for the No. 4 team to stay out during the stage break which proved to be the right call as Nemechek would restart the Final Stage in first with the first two trucks electing to pit.
·        Nemechek was unable to hold off the No. 42 of Carson Hocevar on the restart as Hocevar took over the lead on Lap 92.
·        The Mobil 1 driver continued to battle within the top three for the remainder of the race and was running second when the eighth and final caution of the night came out with 10 laps remaining.
·        Nemechek lined up for the ensuing restart in second on the inside row. As the field went back green, Nemechek found himself in a three-way battle for the lead with Ben Rhodes and Carson Hocevar.
·        Nemechek was unable to make a move on Rhodes or Hocevar and took the checkered flag in third. The Toyota Racing driver came over the radio after the conclusion of the race and stated his No. 4 Tundra TRD Pro “just needed a little more”.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
Solid finish. How was the finish from your perspective?
“Solid night for our Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. We worked really hard over the off season to make the dirt program better. I feel like we were successful in doing that. I felt like we had one of the better trucks in practice. We needed the racetrack to dry slick off and it definitely did that – just didn’t quite have enough to get past the 42 (Carson Hocevar) and the 99 (Ben Rhodes) there. They were a little bit better than us. We will go back to work, but solid points day. Solid finish for our No. 4 Toyota Tundra TRD KBM team. Looking forward to the next few weeks and just trying to build on the recent finishes that we had after the start of the year.”
Pinty's Dirt Race Recap
·        Ben Rhodes picked up his sixth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Carson Hocevar, John Hunter Nemechek, Parker Kligerman, and Christian Eckes rounded out the top-five finishers.
·        There were eight cautions for 43 laps. There were three lead changes among two drivers.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finish 19th.
·        Buddy Kofoid, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 27th.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek remains in fifth through the first six races of the NASCAR Truck Series season. He sits 62 tallies behind ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first.
Next Race
Nemechek and the No. 4 team will have a two-week break until the NASCAR Truck Series returns to action on May 6 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Live coverage will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 7:30pm ET.

by jnemechek

Martinsville Post Race Report

After picking up their first top-five finish of the 2022 NASCAR Truck Series season at Circuit of the Americas, John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 team followed it up with another strong performance at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway ending the event with a fourth-place finish.
Pit strategy for the No. 4 Mobil 1 team paid off as they were able to earn 13 stage points and move up three positions in the Camping World Truck Series driver standings. Nemechek now sits in fifth place, 44 points behind ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek started Thursday’s 200-lap event at Martinsville from fifth after the scheduled qualifying session was cancelled due to rain, ultimately setting the field based on NASCAR’s performance matrix system.
·        Despite falling back to eighth in the opening 25 laps, the Mobil 1 driver never fell outside of the top-10 throughout the opening stage.
·        As a late-stage caution came out on lap 40, veteran crew chief Eric Phillips elected for the No. 4 team to stay out on track to gain track position and earn stage points as trucks ahead of them elected to pit.
·        The call paid off as Nemechek finished the opening stage in fourth, earning seven stage points.
Stage Two Recap:
• Nemechek brought his Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro down pit road at the stage break for our tires and fuel, which would send him back on track scored in 19th.
• The second-generation driver communicated that his Tundra was “a little free” on lap 70 as he gained just three positions to start the second stage.
• Like Stage One, a caution on lap 80 brought out differing pit strategies throughout the field. The No. 4 team once again elected to stay out and gained eight spots on the restart.
• As the green-and-white checkered flag came out to end stage two, Nemechek was scored in fifth, picking up six more stage points.
Final Stage Recap:
·        After bringing his No. 4 Tundra down pit road at the stage break, Nemechek restarted the final stage in ninth.
·        The 11th and final caution of the night came out on lap 158 with Nemechek scored in sixth, lining up for the final restart behind his Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) teammate Chandler Smith on the outside lane.
·        Nemechek was side-by-side with Smith as they battled for fourth on lap 165 before being able to make a successful pass with 34 laps to go.
·        With the laps dwindling down, Nemechek would eventually get into lap traffic before taking the checkered flag in fourth place.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
How was your race tonight and how was the race track surface?
“The track didn't take any rubber tonight. Just was super slick. We missed the balance a little bit. But my guys worked hard. We made adjustments on it throughout the race. Didn't know exactly which side we're going to be -- being way different than our teammates coming in here. So, it's something new to try and keep moving forward. It's another solid finish for us way better than when we finished in 24th or 25th. Good points day. We did what we needed to do other than win the race. So solid day for the Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and we’ll go to Bristol next week. I feel like we're starting to build some momentum between the Truck series and the Xfinity series and having some good runs and good finishes, so we just have to keep it up.”
Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 200 Recap
·        William Byron picked up his eighth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win. Johnny Sauter, Kyle Busch, Nemechek, and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top-five finishers.
·        There were 11 cautions for 71 laps. There were nine lead changes among six drivers.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished third.
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finish sixth.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek gained three positions in the standings Thursday night and now sits in fifth place, 44 points behind ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first.
Next Race
Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team head to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway next week (4/16) for the second running of the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt. Live coverage will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Saturday at 8pm ET.

by jnemechek

COTA Post Race Report

Despite being faced with adversity and sent to the rear of the field twice, John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 ROMCO team rebounded to score their first top-five of the 2022 campaign with a second-place finish at Circuit of the Americas.

Nemechek was scheduled to start Saturday’s 42-lap event in 11th before being sent to the rear for unapproved adjustments. It didn’t take long for the talented wheelman to make his way through the field in the first stage before electing to pit early before the stage break and forfeit stage points in exchange for track position later in the race.

During the middle stanza, Nemechek was spun out battling for the lead which forced him to bring his No. 4 Tundra TRD Pro down pit road for an unscheduled stop. During the stop, the No. 4 team was tagged for an uncontrolled tire penalty, forcing them to begin the final stage from the rear of the field.

After making his way through the field once again and taking advantage of mistakes by other drivers, Nemechek was able to wheel his ROMCO Tundra TRD Pro to a second-place finish, earning his first top-five of the season.

Stage One Recap
· Nemechek was scheduled to start 11th in Saturday’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) but was forced to start at the rear of the field for changing a faulty oil pump belt.
· Despite starting in the rear, Nemechek quickly moved up the field as he was scored in 14th-place on the second lap.
· The second-generation driver made his way up to 11th before veteran crew chief Eric Phillips called for the No. 4 team to make a pit stop before the end of the stage.
· After getting four fresh tires and fuel, Nemechek went back out onto the track and finished the opening stanza scored in 20th.

Stage Two Recap:
· With multiple teams electing to pit at the end of Stage One, Nemechek restarted the second stage in ninth.
· As the field made the 133 foot climb up the hill into Turn 1 on the restart, Nemechek made a three-wide move to the inside that would move him into the top five.
· Nemechek made his way up to the front of the field and found himself in a three-way battle for second with the No. 7 of Alex Bowman and No. 75 of Parker Klingerman before being able to make a successful pass on Lap 18.
· On Lap 22, Nemechek took his first and only lead of the race before being spun out by the No. 38 of Zane Smith while battling for the lead.
· This would force the No. 4 team to bring the ROMCO Tundra TRD Pro down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop.
· During the pit stop, the No. 4 team was penalized for an uncontrolled tire that they would serve at the end of Stage Two after being scored in 28th at the stage break.

Final Stage Recap:
· Nemechek and the No. 4 team had their work cut out for them in the final stage as they would start at the rear of the field.
· With just 10-laps remaining in the race, Nemechek still found himself outside of the top 20 in 22nd.
· Just five laps later, the second-generation driver wheeled his ROMCO Tundra TRD Pro into the top-10 and was scored eighth.
· The seventh caution of the day came out on Lap 41, setting up the field for a green-white-checkered overtime finish with Nemechek in fifth.
· The field would make it just six turns in the first overtime before the eighth and final caution of the day came out for the No. 02 truck stuck in the gravel trap.
· Coming up to Turn 1 on the second overtime restart, the leaders found themselves tangled up in a three-wide battle which opened the door for Nemechek to move up to second place.
· Nemechek attempted to gain on race leader Zane Smith during the final turns of the race but was unable to catch him, bringing home a second-place finish and his first top-five of the season.

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 ROMCO Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
Can you describe those closing laps and how good this run was for you?
“The season has been frustrating for sure. We never give up at KBM. We never give up as an organization. I didn’t have the fastest truck today. We struggled most of the day. I got spun by Zane (Smith). I’m a little ticked off there. That’s two weeks in a row that we’ve got screwed by the 38. On to next week. I’m going to run the Richmond Xfinity race. Thanks to ROMCO Equipment, Toyota, everyone at KBM, TRD for all they do for us. Hopefully, we can keep this ship righted the right way and take this and carry the momentum. It’s way better finishing second than 24th, 25th, 24th in the first three. Still got a lot to go, a lot to learn and a lot to build on, but a long season ahead.”

XPEL 225 Recap
· Zane Smith picked up his second win of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Ben Rhodes, and Chandler Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.
· There were eight cautions for 12 laps. There were 10 lead changes among six drivers, including Nemechek who led once for one lap.

How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
· Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished third.
· Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finish fifth.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
After four events, Nemechek remains in eighth place in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings. He sits 55 points behind his KBM teammate Chandler Smith, who leads the standings.

Next Race
Nemechek and the No. 4 team will resume action as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on April 7. Live coverage of the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 200 will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 8 p.m. ET.

by jnemechek

Atlanta Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek once again showed speed, led laps and ran up front, but his tough start to the 2022 season continued Saturday in the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After starting at the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments, Nemechek finished ninth in the opening stage of the race and took his first lead of the race on lap 51.
The second-generation driver would battle with ThorSport Racing driver Ty Majeski with the laps winding down in the second stage. The stage would ultimately end under caution with Nemechek scored in first, picking up 10 stage points and an additional playoff point.
Nemechek and the No. 4 team would be scored eighth as the field took the green flag for the final stage. With just 24 laps remaining and running in the top-10, the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra suffered a flat tire after brushing the wall. The damage forced Nemechek to go two-laps down and ultimately finish 24th.
Despite not having the finishes to show for it, the talented wheelman has led double-digit laps in each of the first three races this season and leads the Truck Series with three stage wins.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek was scheduled to start 12th in Saturday’s 135-lap event at Atlanta Motor Speedway but was forced to start at the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments.
·        The second-generation driver quickly made his way into the top-20 as he was scored 19th on lap four.
·        Nemechek took advantage of a run on the inside lane as he worked his way up to 12th with just five laps remaining in the opening stanza.
·        As the field took the green-and-white checkered flag to end Stage One, Nemechek was able to gain three more spots, up to ninth and earn two stage points.
Stage Two Recap:
·        Nemechek brought his No. 4 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Tundra TRD Pro down pit road for a fuel-only stop during the stage break and gained four spots, restarting the second stage in fifth.
·        The 24-year-old driver quickly moved up to second behind Halmar Friesen driver Stewart Friesen where the two Toyota Tundra TRD Pro’s would control the top-lane for the next 13 laps.
·        Nemechek took his first lead of the day on lap 51 as he was able to clear the No. 52 of Friesen. As the second stanza continued, Nemechek went back-and-forth with Ty Majeski for the lead before the second caution of the day came out on lap 55.
·        The second stage would ultimately end under caution with Nemechek scored in first, earning an additional 10 stage points and one playoff point.
Final Stage Recap:
·        The No. 4 team elected for four tires and fuel during the Stage Two break and would restart the final stage in eighth as the first six trucks decided to stay out.
·        Nemechek would compete in the top 10 throughout the final stage of the race before having a tire cut down with 24 laps remaining.
·        The damage from the blown tire would send the No. 4 Tundra up into the outside fence, forcing Nemechek to bring his Pye-Barker Tundra down pit road for repairs.
·        The No. 4 assessed the damage and sent Nemechek back out onto the track two laps down, resulting in a 24th-place finish.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
What happened with you getting the damage?
“I got to the outside of the No. 38 and he squeezed me a little bit and I lost air on the right rear and ended up touching the fence and ruined our day.”
Fr8 208 Recap
·        Corey Heim picked up the first win of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, Chandler Smith, and Zane Smith rounded out the Top-five finishers.
·        There were seven cautions for 40 laps. There were 10 lead changes among 10 drivers, including Nemechek who led twice for 11 laps.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Corey Heim, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished first.
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finish fourth
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Despite the 24th-place finish, Nemechek remains eighth in the Camping World Truck Series standings, 52 points behind his KBM teammate Chandler Smith.
Next Race

by jnemechek

Daytona Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek led a race high 50-laps and won the opening two stages of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway but got caught up in “the big one” while challenging for the win in the closing laps and ended the day with a disappointing 24th-place finish.
In addition to two playoff points, with the 20 stage points he earned Nemechek leaves Daytona seventh in the driver point standings despite his finish.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek started the NextEra Energy 250 on the front row in the second position beside ThorSport Racing driver Ty Majeski.
·        As the field took the green flag, Nemechek jumped down to the bottom lane to get help from his Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) teammate Chandler Smith who started the race in the third position.
·        On lap eight, Nemechek communicated to the No. 4 team that his Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was “tight all the way around” but still would maintain his second position.
·        Just five laps later, Nemechek came over the radio saying that he had the opposite problem as he was starting to become a little free exiting Turn 4.
·        Despite handling issues, Nemechek took the lead late in Stage One and would go on to win his first stage of the season.
Stage Two Recap:
·        Nemechek brought his Pye-Barker Tundra TRD Pro down pit road at the stage break and received fuel and a chassis adjustment.
·        The second-generation driver led the field to the green in Stage Two and would remain out front until Lap 30 when the top lane started to form and make a run, dropping Nemechek back to third.
·        With just four laps left in Stage Two, Nemechek jumped up to the top lane in front of KBM teammate Chandler Smith with help behind them.
·        As Nemechek and Smith controlled the top lane, Tyler Ankrum and Derek Kraus got loose on the bottom lane, forfeiting the lead back to the No. 4 team.
·        As the field came out of Turn 4, Nemechek was forced to block both lanes as ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes had a run in the top lane.
·        Nemechek and Rhodes raced back to the line, but Nemechek ultimately beat out Rhodes by a narrow margin for his second stage win of the night.
Final Stage Recap:
·        The second-generation driver brought his No. 4 Toyota back down pit road and would restart the final stage in third.
·        Just past the midway point in the race, Nemechek would regain the lead from Halmar Friesen Racing driver Stewart Friesen.
·        On lap 65, the third caution of the race came out for an incident on the backstretch and brought the field back down pit road. Nemechek and the No. 4 team would hold their first position on the restart with just 33 laps remaining in the NextEra Energy 250.
·        As the race was winding down, a four-truck incident in Turn 4 brought out the fifth caution of the night as Nemechek was in front of the field.
·        On the restart, the bottom lane would fall back in the draft, forcing Nemechek to forfeit the lead to Ben Rhodes.
·        As the field was coming to the line on Lap 99, Nemechek was running third but would be involved in a 17-truck incident as the No. 16 would spin out in front of him causing severe right-front damage.
·        The No. 4 team worked to repair the Pye-Barker Tundra and sent Nemechek back out to finish the race two laps down in the 24th-position.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra TRD Pro for KBM:
Talk about your race.
“I felt like I controlled the race. There were times when we were second, third, just kind of riding in line waiting for the right time to make a move. I gained a whole new respect for speedway racing after listening to Denny (Hamlin) and kind of studying some of the things that he’s done, what (Brad) Keselowski has done, what Kyle (Busch) has done, what (Joey) Logano’s done. They are some good guys at speedway racing, and I studied how they are always at the front. I worked my butt off last year studying and I feel like it has paid off. We won both stages and put ourselves in the right positing there at the end. I had Parker (Kligerman) behind me, I was committed to the 16 there for a bit and then Parker I feel like was committed to me and we just wrecked in the tri-oval. It is was it is, we put ourselves into contention and that’s all you can do. The last two superspeedway races I’ve felt like we’ve had the best truck and controlled the race, really.”
NextEra Energy 250 Recap
·        Zane Smith picked up the fourth win of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, Tanner Gray, and Parker Kligerman rounded out the top-five finishers.
·        There were seven cautions for 27 laps. There were 18 lead changes among 10 drivers, including Nemechek who led a race high 50 laps.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 21st.
·        Corey Heim, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 32nd.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Despite being caught in “The Big One,” Nemechek still sits in seventh in the Driver Championship Standings, just 13 tallies behind points leader, Zane Smith. Nemechek also collected two playoff points with his stage wins.
Next Race

by jnemechek

Phoenix Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek came into Friday night’s championship race looking to capture his first-ever NASCAR championship. After qualifying 16th, Nemechek knew he would have work to do as he started behind the other three Championship 4 contenders. As the field went green, Nemechek sustained damage on the opening lap in Turn One which would eventually lead to a flat tire and more damage to the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra.
The damage from the opening lap set Nemechek back the remainder of the race as he battled to get back on the lead lap. With 50 laps remaining, Nemechek finally got the caution flag he was looking for to put him back on the lead lap and a chance to chase down the other championship contenders. The second-generation driver began to work his way through the field and was able to pass Matt Crafton and put himself third in the championship race.
While Nemechek worked his way within three seconds of eventual champion Ben Rhodes, he would ultimately run out of time and cross the finish line in seventh, putting him third in the championship standings behind Ben Rhodes and Zane Smith.
Stage One Recap
·        Nemechek qualified 16th for the Lucas Oil 150 with a lap time of 27.087 seconds and would start behind the other three Championship 4 contenders.
·        Heading into Turn One on the opening lap, Nemechek was pushed up the track and into the wall, damaging the No. 4 Toyota.
·        The damaged sustained from the opening lap would eventually cut down the left front tire and force Nemechek to bring the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra down pit road for repairs.
·        After repairs, Nemechek would be put a lap down early in the championship race.
·        With 12 laps remaining in the opening stage, veteran crew chief Eric Phillips communicated to his driver that he was running similar lap times as the drivers out front and reminded him to stay focused that it would be a long race.
·        Nemechek ultimately finished Stage One in the 30th-position one lap down.
Stage Two Recap:
·        After restarting Stage Two in 30th, Nemechek began to work his way back through the field and was scored in the 27th-position on Lap 85, still one lap down.
·        Nemechek was unable to get the caution he needed in the middle stage to get him back on the lead lap.
·        As the green-and-white checkered flag came out to end Stage Two, Nemechek remained in 27th one lap down.
Final Stage Recap:
·        Nemechek and the No. 4 team were able to gain two spots on pit road before the start of the final stage, sending the No. 4 Tundra back out onto the track in 25th.
·        Just 10 laps into the final stage, Nemechek finally got the caution he was looking for as the No. 12 truck came to a stop on the track. This caution would put Nemechek back on the lead lap and give him a shot to chase down the other championship contenders with just 45 laps remaining.
·        After bringing the Pye-Barker Tundra down pit road for what would ultimately be the final pit stop of the race, Nemechek would restart 20th with his sights set on chasing down the other Championship 4 drivers.
·        With 27 laps remaining in the title race, Nemechek passed fellow championship contender Matt Crafton for 11th-place and third in the championship race
·        After completing the pass on the No. 88, crew chief Eric Phillips came over the radio to encourage his driver saying, “let’s go get the next one”.
·        Nemechek continued to gain ground on Ben Rhodes and Zane Smith and was within three seconds of Rhodes with just four laps remaining but would eventually run out of time.
·        Nemechek took the checkered flag in seventh-place, four positions behind Ben Rhodes who would claim the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra for KBM:
Lucas Oil 150 Recap
·        Chandler Smith picked up the second win of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. Stewart Friesen, Ben Rhodes, Sheldon Creed, and Zane Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.
·        Ben Rhodes of ThorSport Racing captured the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.
·        There were 4 cautions for 25 laps. There were 11 lead changes among three drivers.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished first.
·        Drew Dollar, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 18th.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek finished third overall in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standing behind Ben Rhodes and Zane Smith.
Next Race

by jnemechek

Martinsville Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek came into the third and final race of the Round of 8 sitting 36 points above the cutoff line to advance to the Championship 4. Despite being involved in an accident on Lap 129, Nemechek still would advance as he finished just four points above the cutoff line.
Nemechek started the United Rentals 200 from the pole and would run inside of the top-five for the majority of the first two stages. The second-generation driver tallied an extra 18-stage points throughout the race by finishing third and second in the first two stages, respectively.
Stage One Recap
  • Nemechek started the United Rentals 200 from the pole position based on NASCAR’s performance matrix system.
  • By the time the field came back to the start-finish line on the opening lap, Nemechek fell back to third behind Todd Gilliland and Sheldon Creed.
  • Nemechek continued to battle with Creed for the second position and got to his driver’s side door on Lap 21 but couldn’t complete the pass and would remain in third.
  • The battle for second continued throughout the stage but lapped traffic became a factor and would not allow a passing lane for the No. 4 Tundra.
  • Nemechek took the green-and-white checkered flag in the third position to close out the opening stage, earning an additional eight stage points.
Stage Two Recap:
  • Nemechek would bring his Pye-Barker Fire Tundra down pit road for four tires and fuel between stages. The No. 4 team executed their pit stop and gained one position as Nemechek would begin the second stage in second place on the outside lane next to Gilliland.
  • Nemechek would spend the majority of the middle stanza in second place besides leading two laps midway through the stage.
  • Nemechek would ultimately finish Stage Two in second and gain nine more stage points to add to his total.
Final Stage Recap:
  • Nemechek began the Final Stage in 14th-place due to differing pit strategies throughout the field.
  • By the time the field got back to the start-finish line, Nemechek gained two spots and started to close in on the Top 10.
  • On Lap 129, Nemechek got to the bumper of Austin Wayne Self coming out of Turn 2 and as he went to complete the pass entering Turn 3, Nemechek was spun out and got into the outside wall.
  • This accident would be enough damage to end the No. 4 team’s day and relegate Nemechek to a 39th-place finish.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra for KBM:
What happened between you and Austin Wayne Self?
“I don’t know. He shouldn’t be out here if he’s just going to hook someone in the right rear and turn them in the fence. NASCAR should definitely look at that. It’s Playoff contention. You’ve got to have respect and he doesn’t. It is what it is. Hopefully we make it to the final four and we definitely will have something for them in Phoenix.”
United Rentals 200 Recap
  • Zane Smith picked up the third win of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career and earned a spot in the Championship 4. Austin Hill, Tanner Gray, Chandler Smith, and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five finishers.
  • There were 14 cautions for 89 laps. There were 10 lead changes among four drivers, including Nemechek who led for two laps.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished fourth.
·        Corey Heim, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 11th.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek closed out the Round of 8 just four points above the cutoff line to advance to the Championship 4. The second-generation driver will compete for the NASCAR Truck Series Championship against Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton of ThorSport Racing and Zane Smith of GMS Racing.
Next Race
Nemechek will be back behind the wheel of the No. 4 Toyota Tundra as he competes for the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Friday, Nov. 6. Live coverage of the event will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 8 p.m. ET.

by jnemechek

Talladega Post Race Report

John Hunter Nemechek finished fourth in an eventful NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Nemechek was able to run in the top-10 for a majority of the first two stages and picked up an additional five stage points.
Nemechek avoided three different accidents throughout the final stage and restarted overtime from the third position. As the field came through the tri-oval for the final time, Nemechek was in the lead before being turned and crossing the finish line sideways in the fourth position.
With just one race left in the Round of 8, Nemechek sits 36 points above the cutoff line to advance to the Championship 4.
Stage One Recap
  • John Hunter Nemechek started the Talladega 250 in the seventh position on the inside line based on NASCAR’s performance matrix system.
  • With five laps remaining in the opening stage, Nemechek worked his way to the front and was running in the front row of the draft on the outside lane.
  • Just three laps later, the inside lane had a big run, ultimately moving Nemechek back to seventh.
  •  As the green-and-white checkered came out at the end of Stage One, the second-generation driver was scored seventh, picking up an additional three stage points.
Stage Two Recap:
  • After crew chief Eric Phillips called for a fuel-only pit stop, the No. 4 Tundra gained six spots on pit road and restarted the second stage from the first position.
  • Nemechek finished the middle stanza scored eighth, adding on two more stage points to his total.
Final Stage Recap:
  • Nemechek restarted the final stage in the 13th-position behind Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) teammate Drew Dollar.
  • Ten laps into the final stage, Nemechek lost the draft and fell back to 23rd.
  • With 37 laps to go, there was a 21-truck incident that Nemechek was able to avoid and jumped up into the 11th-spot. He communicated with the No. 4 team that they “might’ve hit debris but should be good”.
  • Nemechek brought the Fire Alarm Services/Pye-Barker Tundra down pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires and fuel with 34 laps remaining.
  • The second-generation driver would restart in 13th on the inside lane and gain eight spots before he field came back to the stripe.
  • Another incident occurred with 18 laps remaining that Nemechek was once again able to avoid by ducking below the yellow line.
  • The field went back green with just 12 laps left in the Talladega 250 and the No. 4 Tundra in the fifth position.
  • Nemechek once again lost the draft and fell back to 10th before there was another caution coming through the tri-oval with two to go.
  • Nemechek lined up third for the overtime restart and had moved into first coming through the tri-oval before being turned around coming to the line.
  • The No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra went sliding across the start/finish line as Nemechek was credited a fourth-place finish.
John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Tundra for KBM:
What happened on the final lap coming to the checkered flag?
“I had a run, got by the 38 (Todd Gilliland) and was trying to keep the 12 (Tate Fogleman) in the mirror. He had a huge run through the tri-oval. He faked high and I went to block high and then the block was a little too late I guess. I should have stayed up and probably still would have won the race. Overall, solid day for our Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Services Toyota Tundra. Us and the Toyota teammates worked very well together. We had a Toyota train going there at one time today. Solid points day for us – 35 above the cut line I think or something like that going into Martinsville. Just have to survive and advance to get to the final four.”
Are you upset with the 12 truck or is that just restrictor plate racing?
“That’s just how every race here for the past however many years has ended some way like that. It is what it is. I can’t be mad. As much as you want to be mad, you can’t be mad. It’s partly my fault. You take it with a grain of salt. I’m more mad at myself than anything for not staying higher to kind of stay away from him. It is what it is.”
Talladega 250 Recap
  • Tate Fogleman picked up his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway. Fogleman was followed by Tyler Hill, Todd Gilliland, Nemechek, and Ryan Truex to round out the top-five.
  • There were six cautions for 29 laps. There were 23 lead changes among 12 drivers, including Nemechek who led 11 laps.
How John Hunter Nemechek's KBM Teammates Fared:
·        Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 19th.
·        Drew Dollar, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 35th.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship Standings
Nemechek has moved back into the top spot of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver championship standings following a fourth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway. He currently sits 36 points above the cutoff line to advance to the Championship 4 with one race remaining.
Next Race
Nemechek and the No. 4 team will head to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the final race of the Round of 8 on Oct. 30. Live coverage will be on FS1, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM at 1 p.m. ET.

by jnemechek

No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Tundra Camping World Trucks Talladega Preview

Neme'chek' The Facts:
  • John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team head to Talladega Superspeedway for the second race in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs 28 points above the cutoff line for advancing to the Championship 4 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway. After starting first and leading the first 30 en laps at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway en route to his series-leading 11th stage win Nemechek began experiencing electrical issues in Stage Two which sent him behind the wall for several laps and relegated the team to a 33rd-place finish in the opening race in the Round of 8. After this week’s race at Talladega, the Round of 8 will conclude Oct. 30 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
  • The 24-year-old driver has made five Truck Series starts at Talladega, with a best result of sixth in the 2017 event. He finished eighth in each of his Cup Series starts at the Alabama track, both last season. In the Xfinity Series he has finished inside the top 10 in both of his Talladega starts, with a best result of sixth in 2019. In his superspeedway debut for KBM in the Truck Series, he led 14 laps and finished seventh at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February.
  • The second-generation driver has put together a remarkable season thus far in his first season driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM). In addition to leading the circuit in race wins (five) and stage wins (11), he leads the Truck Series in top fives (11), fastest laps run (280), driver rating (115.2), average running position (6.920) and average finish (8.7).
  • Nemechek registered his fifth Truck Series win of 2021 June 26 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. The talented wheelman was able to beat KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch head-to-head for the third time this season. Nemechek also bested his boss at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March and at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Busch finished second to his pupil in all three of those events. Additionally, Nemechek has produced victories at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
  • The Toyota Racing driver is competing in the Camping World Truck Series playoffs for the third time in his career. He finished eighth in the championship standings for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, in 2016 and 2017. Nemechek is an 11-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, and returning to victory lane this year with KBM.
  • Eric Phillips returned 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 42 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 32 of those coming while at KBM. At Talladega, Phillip’s drivers have collected one win, one top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.9 across seven starts. He was victorious with KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch at the 2.66-mile tri-oval in 2010.
John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
John Hunter Nemechek | Talladega Superspeedway Preview
Being 24 points above the cutoff line heading into Talladega, will you be on offense or defense?
“My theory is the less trucks that are in front of you, the less likely you are to wreck. For us, I think we have to go out and have a solid race, obviously. Stage points mean a lot, there is a lot that can change throughout the race, gaining or losing stage points compared to the other competitors. I also feel like you have to be around at the end to have a solid finish – that’s really what makes or breaks your day, I feel like. Have to have a solid race, definitely be on the lookout to not wreck but stay in the mix all day.”
What do you think makes a good superspeedway racer?
“I think overall, being a good superspeedway racer is recognizing the situations – being able to know when to side draft and when not to side draft and using the air and the run to your advantage. The Trucks are a little bit different than a Cup car or an Xfinity car, they definitely draft different. I feel like it’s more single-file or pack-style racing compared to the other series. There are a lot of new guys to superspeedway racing, with not a lot of experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series compared to the other two series. You have to be on the lookout for that as well. I think just recognizing the situations, knowing when to take a run and when not to take a run. Knowing who your drafting partners are - who you can trust and who you can’t trust is what all goes into making a really good superspeedway racer.”
Talk about your paint scheme for Saturday’s race.
“We have a pink No. 4, Pye-Barker/Fire Alarm Services Toyota Tundra on track this weekend at Talladega. Something that hits home to all of us, my family, the family from Fire Alarm Services as well and everyone involved. Trying to bring pink out and create some awareness for Breast Cancer. It being the month of October is a special month for us, so we’re looking forward to hopefully taking it to victory lane on Saturday.”
John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:
  • Eleven-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 121 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,168 laps led, 39 top-five and 64 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Across 53 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled one win (Kansas Speedway, 10/20/18), one pole, 225 laps led, 13 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.
John Hunter Nemechek's No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Tundra:
KBM-13: The No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team will unload KBM-13 for Saturday’s race at Talladega. This is the first time this Tundra has been raced since 2018. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch won with KBM-13 at Daytona International Speedway in 2014. It also has produced runner-up finishes with Christopher Bell at Talladega in 2017 and Erik Jones at Daytona in 2015.
KBM Notes of Interest:
  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, two poles, 68 laps led, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.6 across 28 starts at Talladega.
  • Raphael Lessard collected the first victory of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career last year at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious in the 2010 event when he finished 0.002 seconds ahead of Aric Almirola in the closest finish in Truck Series history since electronic scoring was instituted.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (89) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway Chandler Smith became the 17th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner's Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 16 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.
Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Toyota Tundra Camping World Trucks Box Score:

by jnemechek