JH Race Preview: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports
Race Preview
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: Chevrolet Silverado 250
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2015
Venue: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park ... This week will mark SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the 10-turn, 2.459-mile road course. John Hunter Nemechek posted a team best finish of 25th- place at the Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, facility on August 31, 2014.
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History ... Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has logged 61 starts from five drivers, resulting in strong performances including one victory and eight top-five finishes, as well as 28 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 14.8 and an average finishing position of 13.3.
Follow NEMCO Motorsports on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit NEMCO Motorsports’ Twitter page - @NEMCOMotorsport. Also, follow the NEMCO Motorsports drivers on their personal Twitter pages - @FrontRowJoe87, and @JHNemechek. You can also “like” Joe Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /NASCARJoe, and John Hunter Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /JohnHunterNemechek.
Meet John Hunter Nemechek … John Hunter Nemechek is scheduled to participate in an autograph session with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, August 29. Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing display located in the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park fan midway area for a question and answer session with Nemechek on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ET).
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Connection … Ron Fellows, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park co-owner, has driven for team owner Joe Nemechek. In four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts for NEMCO Motorsports, Fellows posted the teams single NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory (Watkins Glen) and two top-five finishes, as well as two top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 10.0 and an average finishing position of 10.0.
Catch the Action ... The Chevrolet Silverado 250 will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, August 30 starting with the pre-race show at 1:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 15th event on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Saturday, August 29 at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX Sports 2. In addition, the practice sessions on Saturday will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 9:30 a.m. (ET).
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado
This Week's SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ Chevrolet Silverado at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park ... John Hunter Nemechek will pilot Chassis No. 035 in the 1 Chevrolet Silverado 250 at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the NEMCO Motorsports prepared chassis qualified second and finished in the seventh position. Nemechek made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in this chassis. Currently, the oldest chassis in the NEMCO Motorsports fleet.
On the Road Again ... This weekend marks John Hunter Nemechek’s second Canadian Tire Motorsport Park appearance with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., driver has earned an average starting position of 16.0 and an average finishing position of 25.00 at the track. Nemechek has six starts on road courses with entries at Carolina Motorsports Park, Rockingham Raceway Park, and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Rewind … John Hunter Nemechek showed strength on August 31 at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, wheeling his No. 8 NEMCO Motorsports entry from his 16th-place starting spot to as high as 11th place by Lap 10 in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race before ultimately finishing in the 25th position. In his road course series debut, Nemechek completed 26 laps before transmission issues ended the promising run.
In the Rearview Mirror: Bristol Motor Speedway ... John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 MeetBall Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports, finished third in the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Wednesday, August 19 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Nemechek, who turned his second Bristol Motor Speedway start into his career-best finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE (ON CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK.):
“Racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is something I have been looking forward to making some right-turns. I feel like last year, my experience was a blast. This place is really fun, really fast, and it is hard to pass for track position.
“Track position is going to play a big role, but you have to get your Chevrolet to work here. It is not necessarily a technical track for the driver, but in order to be fast your NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry need to turn, have positive front grip, and have traction off the corner. The key passing places, you have to remember those and you can’t get yourself in a bind – getting hung on the outside on any of these fast corners.”
JH Race Preview: Bristol Motor Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports
Race Preview
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Venue: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at the Bristol Motor Speedway ... This week will mark SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the half-mile concrete oval track. John Hunter Nemechek posted a team best finish of sixth place at the Bristol, Tenn., facility on August 20, 2014.
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History ... Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has logged 60 starts from five drivers, resulting in strong performances including one victory and seven top-five finishes, as well as 27 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 14.9 and an average finishing position of 13.5.
Follow NEMCO Motorsports on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit NEMCO Motorsports’ Twitter page - @NEMCOMotorsport. Also, follow the NEMCO Motorsports drivers on their personal Twitter pages - @FrontRowJoe87, and @JHNemechek. You can also “like” Joe Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /NASCARJoe, and John Hunter Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /JohnHunterNemechek.
Volunteer State Native … Gere Kennon, a Memphis, Tenn., native, is the crew chief on NEMCO Motorsports’ No. 8 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry. Kennon can boast of a well-developed résumé; he led the legendary Sam Ard to back-to-back Xfinity Series championship titles in 1982 and 1983, and served as the general manager of Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program in 2012. In his 30-plus year career, Kennon has served as a crew chief in all three NASCAR series, and has worked with such legends as Mark Martin, Brett Bodine, Rick Mast, Ron Hornaday, Jr. and Sterling Marlin. Kennon has a 5.5 average finishing position at the Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Meet John Hunter Nemechek … Fans can visit the Team Chevrolet Racing display located in the Bristol Motor Speedway Merchandise Midway area for a question and answer session with John Hunter Nemechek on Wednesday, August 19 at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
Media Availability ... John Hunter Nemechek will be accessible to media in attendance at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m. (ET). The media availability will be hosted inside the Media Center with other NASCAR Next members.
Catch the Action ... The UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on Wednesday, August 19 starting with the pre-race show at 8:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 14th event on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. (ET) on FOX Sports 2. In addition, the final practice session on Wednesday will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 8 MeetBall Chevrolet Silverado
This Week's SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ Chevrolet Silverado at the Bristol Motor Speedway ... John Hunter Nemechek will pilot Chassis No. 034 in the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The Gere Kennon-led team unloaded this chassis earlier this season at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and the Dover (Del.) International Speedway. On May 29 at the Dover International Speedway, the NEMCO Motorsports prepared chassis qualified sixth and finished in the 22nd-position, completing 136 laps of the scheduled 200.
Battle in the Last Great Colosseum ... This weekend marks John Hunter Nemechek’s second Bristol Motor Speedway appearance with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., driver has earned an average starting position of 13.0 and an average finishing position of 6.00 at the track.
#FindYourParty … MeetBall, a real-time location sharing navigation application, will be the primary partner on the No. 8 Chevrolet Silverado at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP. In April, John Hunter Nemechek was announced as the free mobile app's exclusive NASCAR brand ambassador.
Bristol Motor Speedway Rewind … Making his sixth start of the 2014 season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and his first on the high-banked half-mile of Bristol Motor Speedway, John Hunter Nemechek finished sixth in the August 20, 2014 UNOH 200. Nemechek qualified 13th, and moved into the top 10 by Lap 40 of the 200-lap event. He stayed inside the top 10 for the remainder of the race, which was run a day later than scheduled due to rain.
In the Rearview Mirror: Michigan International Speedway ... John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports, finished 12th in the Careers for Veterans 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, August 15 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. An ill-handling Silverado and a pit road penalty on Lap 30 for an uncontrolled tire forced him toward the back of the lead lap trucks, where heavy traffic created obstacles for Nemechek’s debut at the track.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE (ON BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY.):
“Coming to Bristol Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Wednesday night is something I have definitely looked forward to for a while. This track suits my driving style – it is fast, it is fun, it is a driver’s track. You have to get your truck to handle right, but if you are a little afraid or if you can’t get your foot down to push the pedal on the metal then you are not going to be fast.”
JH Race Preview: Michigan International Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports
Race Preview
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2015
Venue: Michigan International Speedway
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at the Michigan International Speedway ... This week will mark SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the 2-mile track nestled in the lush Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan. Joe Nemechek posted a team best finish of 10th place at the Brooklyn, Mich., facility on August 16, 2014.
SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History ... Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization has logged 59 starts from five drivers, resulting in strong performances including one victory and seven top-five finishes, as well as 27 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 14.8 and an average finishing position of 13.5.
Follow NEMCO Motorsports on Social Media ... To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit NEMCO Motorsports’ Twitter page - @NEMCOMotorsport. Also, follow the NEMCO Motorsports drivers on their personal Twitter pages - @FrontRowJoe87, and @JHNemechek. You can also “like” Joe Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /NASCARJoe, and John Hunter Nemechek on his official Facebook page at /JohnHunterNemechek.
Meet John Hunter Nemechek … Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing display located in the Michigan International Speedway fan midway area for a question and answer session with John Hunter Nemechek on Saturday, August 15 at 9:00 a.m. (ET).
Catch the Action ... The Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, August 15, starting with the pre-race show at 12:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Qualifying for the 13th event on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on FOX Sports 1. In addition, the practice sessions on Friday, August 14 will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
John Hunter Nemechek
No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado
This Week's SWM-NEMCO Motorsports’ Chevrolet Silverado at the Michigan International Speedway ... John Hunter Nemechek will pilot Chassis No. 037 in the Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by Cooper Standard and Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation at the Michigan International Speedway. The Gere Kennon-led team unloaded this chassis both at the Kansas Speedway and at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. On May 15 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NEMCO Motorsports prepared chassis qualified 16th and finished in the 11th-position with Joe Nemechek.
Nemechek Rolling into the Irish Hills ... This week marks John Hunter Nemechek’s first Michigan International Speedway appearance with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Boyne Machine Company 125 … John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 Green Leaf Tree Services for NEMCO Motorsports, finished in 12th place at the ARCA/CRA Super Series race at the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway on Wednesday, August 12. Nemechek qualified sixth for the 125-lap event sixth, but started second. The 18-year old took the lead for the first 33 laps to eventually capture the VanDoorn Racing Development Lap Leader award for leading the first 116 laps. On Lap 117 Nemechek was involved an incident resulting in heavy cosmetic damage, relegating the No. 8 Chevrolet to a 12th-place finish.
Michigan International Speedway Rewind … Joe Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 Smoke-N-Sear / SWM-NEMCO Motorsports entry for NEMCO Motorsports, finished in 10th place at the Careers for Veterans 200 last year on August 16 at the Michigan International Speedway. Nemechek started the race from the 19th position and captured his fifth top-10 finish of the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
In the Rearview Mirror: Pocono Raceway ... Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, known as the “Tricky Triangle,” lived up to its reputation for John Hunter Nemechek’s track debut. A 13th-place finish masked the actual performance of Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 D.A.B. Constructors Inc. Chevrolet Silverado for NEMCO Motorsports. He raced as high as sixth, but a pit road penalty upset his effort.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE (ON MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.):
“Going to Michigan International Speedway for the first time will be an interesting weekend for our NEMCO Motorsports team. It is the fastest track we go to with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and I am really looking forward to getting on the track and drafting, and trying to get our No. 8 SWM-NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado where I can hold it wide-open for a long run. I think that if we can accomplish that, our team will be quite fast and can compete up at the front.”
Nemechek Gets his Revenge on Indy with CRA Victory
Last July, John Hunter Nemechek left Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Raceway disappointed with losing an ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Model event by mere inches to NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch.
Saturday, in his first appearance to Lucas OIl since that dramatic finish, Nemechek found redemption in the "Circle City."
The 18-year-old driver scored his first ARCA/CRA Super Series victory and third overall Late Model win of the season with a dominating performance in the Circle City 100.
"We came out here to win and that's what we did," Nemechek said following his victory. "I can't thank D.A.B. Constructors, Rocky Ridge Trucks and everyone that helps on this team enough."
Nemechek set fast time for the 100-lap feature, but started 10th following an invert. He wasted little time to get back to the front. He rode patiently in second for several laps in the early stages before making his move around early leader Grant Quinlan on lap 55 and never looked back.
Even late-race restarts, which put some of the top Super Late Model talents in the country at his door and bumper, could not deter Nemechek's No. 8 from victory lane.
"I can't give enough to my dad (NASCAR veteran Joe Nemechek) who put this car together in about a week to come up here. It shows what our team can do and I can't thank everyone enough."
Nemechek will be back behind the wheel of his No. 8 Super Late Model on August 22 when he competes in the Lee Fields Memorial 100 at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama. First things first, he will compete in his No. 8 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry in the August 1 event at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.
Nemechek Leaves Missouri With Green Jacket & Big Check
John Hunter Nemechek is a big money race winner, and he proved that once again on Independence Day at I-44 Speedway in Missouri when he took home the green jacket and the $8,000 check in the Mercy Masters of the Pros 144.
Nemechek was fast all weekend, and he backed that up with a second-place effort in qualifying. He started eighth after the invert and quickly made his way through the field.
He got to second place behind leader Sterling Marlin on lap 40 and just waited for an opportunity to take the lead.
That chance came when a caution came out on lap 73. On the ensuing restart Nemechek stalked Marlin before finally taking the lead on lap 94.
“We knew we had to be patient, but at the same time we needed to grab spots whenever we could,” said Nemechek. "We just needed to race smart. It was a bit of a small crew. We made the decision to come out and run this pretty late. So it was just three guys and myself this weekend. ”
While Nemechek can now add this race to his list of big wins along with the Snowball Derby and All American 400, there's still a few races left he needs to cross off.
"There’s still a couple big races coming up this fall we want to win," Nemechek said. "Winchester [400]. Snowflake [100] and the Snowball again. And grab a Truck win too."
Nemechek will have a chance to grab that Truck win on Thursday, July 9 when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes on the Kentucky Motor Speedway.
John Hunter Named to NASCAR Next Class of 2015
(NASCAR Press Release)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Five of the six NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winners in 2015 are 21 years old or younger. The championship points leaders in both the East and West are 17 and 16, respectively. And a 17-year-old just became the highest-finishing female in the 61-year history of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
It is fitting that as fans celebrate Jeff Gordon’s final year of competition, the ranks of NASCAR are filled with young drivers battling to one day fill that void. And on Tuesday, in a building that honors the sport’s history, NASCAR introduced some of those potential future stars of the sport.
During a ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, 12 drivers were formally announced as the newest NASCAR Next class, a group of up-and-coming talent that joins the industry program aimed at spotlighting NASCAR’s emerging stars.
"The NASCAR Next initiative spotlights the future of NASCAR, a collection of promising young talent who have shown the potential to one day reach the highest level of our sport," said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president for Industry Services. "Alumni – and current members – of the NASCAR Next program are achieving success at the national series level, and we are confident that this class will build upon that foundation of excellence for many seasons to come."
Now in its fifth season, the career résumé of NASCAR Next alumni is impressive, highlighted by Chase Elliott’s 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship, Kyle Larson’s 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, and Cole Custer’s September 2014 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, making him the youngest winner in NASCAR national series history.
Of the 28 drivers previously selected for the program, 21 have raced in one of NASCAR’s three national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), and 11 are competing full-time there in 2015.
The team was selected through an evaluation process that included input from industry executives and veteran racers. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, have tangible and expressed goals in eventual competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and demonstrate the potential to realize that goal.
Each driver in NASCAR Next must be actively competing in a NASCAR touring or weekly series – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East or West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series or NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitors also are eligible provided they are not slated to run a full season in their respective series.
The NASCAR Next members for 2015-16 are:
- Rico Abreu (23, Rutherford, Calif., Twitter: @Rico_Abreu) – A 2014 USAC national champion and winner of the 2015 Chili Bowl, he has two top-10 finishes in three K&N Pro Series East starts, his first season racing in stock cars.
- Nicole Behar (17, Otis Orchards, Wash., @NicoleBehar33) – Tied the series record for highest finish by a female driver in just her fifth K&N West start with her second place mark at Irwindale Event Center, and has top-10 finishes in four of six West starts.
- Kyle Benjamin (17, Easley, S.C., @kylebenjamin71) – This Roush Fenway Racing developmental driver earned his first K&N Pro Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway, and is the youngest race winner in ARCA history.
- James Bickford (17, Napa, Calif., @Bickford_James) – The 2014 K&N West Sunoco Rookie of the Year earned his first win at State Line Speedway last season and finished fifth in the season championship.
- William Byron (17, Charlotte, N.C., @WilliamByron) – With a win at Greenville Pickens Speedway and three top 10 finishes, he sits atop the K&N Pro East season championship standings.
- Cole Custer (17, Ladera Ranch, Calif., @colecuster00) – He holds the records for youngest pole award and race winner in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR’s touring series, and led late in the Truck race at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season.
- Ruben Garcia Jr. (19, Mexico City, Mex., @rubengarcia4) – The runner up in last season’s NASCAR Mexico Series season championship, he had one win and 10 top-10 finishes there while also competing in three NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
- Austin Hill (21, Winston, Ga., @_AustinHill) – Had three consecutive K&N East wins, in the final two races in 2014 and the 2015 season opener at New Smyrna Speedway where he captured his first pole award and led every lap.
- Jesse Little (18, Sherrill’s Ford, N.C., @jesselittle97) – Had a win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2014 to finish fourth in the season standings. Won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in his 2015 K&N East debut.
- Dylan Lupton (21, Wilton, Calif., @LuptonDylan) – Was the 2014 K&N West championship runner up with a win at Kern County Speedway and registered 14 top-10 finishes; made his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway in March.
- John Hunter Nemechek (17, Mooresville, N.C., @JHNemechek) – Earned six top-10 finishes in 10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2014, and won the prestigious Snowball Derby Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway in December.
- Dalton Sargeant (17, Boca Raton, Fla., @DaltonSargeant) – Has a win at Kern County Raceway Park in the West this season, and four top-five finishes in five combined East and West races.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and http://www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.
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.”