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.