Hemric Contends for MIS Victory Before Late-Race Chaos

Venue: Michigan International Speedway

FINISH: 27th

Start: 11th

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Point Standings Position: 3rd

Daniel Hemric was in contention for victory at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on Saturday afternoon before late-race chaos unraveled his quest. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST finished 27th after a cut tire from a multi-truck incident sent him hard into the Turn 3 wall on the first of three overtime finishes. After 13 races, Hemric sits third in the NCTS championship standings.

Hemric posted the 11th-fastest lap in Saturday morning’s qualifying session and began the afternoon battling a loose condition during the opening 30-lap stage. The lack of rear lateral grip hampered Hemric’s forward progress and kept him in 17th at the end of Stage 1 on lap 30.

The NAPA Auto Care team delivered a brisk four-tire pit stop that gained Hemric six positions during the first stage caution and returned him to the track in 11th. He elected to restart in the preferred outside lane in 14th on lap 38 and immediately cracked the top-10. However, Hemric’s balance swung tighter in Stage 2 and ran 13th at the end of the segment on lap 60.

After the NAPA Auto Care team tendered another blitzing four-tire pit stop to gain four spots, Hemric was able to vault himself into sixth on lap 70. A caution on lap 77 allowed crew chief Josh Graham to bring Hemric to pit road for a fuel-only gamble to gain track position. After pitting again for fuel-only service while all other trucks took four tires under a lap 84 caution, Hemric restarted third on lap 91 and ran inside the top-five. However, a restart on lap 121, five laps from the scheduled distance, resulted in Hemric being collected in a multi-truck accident sustaining damage to the left front tire.

Despite the damage, Hemric restarted fourth for the first overtime restart on lap 127 but hit the Turn 3 wall after suffering a flat tire. The terminal damage knocked Hemric out of the event and relegated him to a 27th-place finish.

Daniel Hemric Quote:

“I’m fine. Everyone at MHR builds safe race trucks. Hate that we have a completely destroyed NAPA Auto Care Silverado RST there. With one in the bank from earlier this year, you can take that chance but definitely don’t want to end up like that. I actually felt like we were in a pretty good spot there. Felt okay about the damage, not great. As soon as I got to speed there on the restart, I had a lot of tire smoke. It kind of cleared up down the back straightaway for a minute. Got the right rear of the No. 13 getting into (turn) three, and as soon as I got to his right rear turned into the corner it popped immediately. Not ideal. Proud of the fight. Proud of this group. We came a long way throughout the race today.”