Hemric Hopes to Jump Start Season in Georgia
Venue: EchoPark Speedway
Events: Fr8 Racing 208
Date: Saturday, February 21
Location: Hampton, GA
Track Description: 1.54-mile quad oval
Distance: 135 laps / 207.9 miles (1:30 p.m. ET – FOX Sports 1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM)
Get a Kick Start … Daniel Hemric aims to return MHR to EchoPark Speedway’s victory lane in the second event of the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (NCTS) tour. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST hopes the return to Georgia kick starts his season after a 26th-place run at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). In Hemric’s most recent visit to the Hampton, Ga. venue, he rebounded from sustaining early damage to make an improbable run through the field and challenge for the lead in the waning laps. Hemric looks to deliver a strong afternoon and reestablish himself as one of the series’ frontrunners.
Going Down to Georgia … Over the last 11 years, Hemric has had plenty of trips down to the “Peach State”. Since 2015, Hemric has made 15 starts across NASCAR’s three national series with consistent success in each division. While he’s still searching for the key to unlock the victory lane gates, Hemric has a pair of runner-up results in the former NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2023 and scored a top-five finish in the 2016 NCTS event prior to the track’s reconfiguration. If history is any indication, Hemric will have a fast NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet on Saturday as MHR has secured the last two pole awards in Atlanta and have claimed the last three Stage 1 checkered flags, dating back to 2023.
Season to Date … The No. 19 team’s season began with great potential at DIS last weekend and were running inside the top-five before a detached spoiler brace forced them to make repairs under green, and ultimately finish 26th. Hemric salvaged 11 points in the second half of the event, including earning the fastest lap of the race and sits 24th in the NCTS standings entering Atlanta. He, crew chief Kevin Bellicourt, and the rest of the No. 19 squad look to capitalize on one of MHR’s best tracks to begin their ascent through the standings.
Tune In … Coverage from Atlanta begins on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, followed by the green flag Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. ET. Stay connected with the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmr_nascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.
Daniel Hemric Quote:
On his second Atlanta start with MHR:
“Atlanta has been pretty to MHR over the years, and our No. 19 team had some speed last year. The company had some poles, stage wins, got to victory lane, so I’d like to add to that this weekend. We need to get our season rolling this week and put our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet up front. It’s special to race in NAPA’s backyard, across town from their home office, and I think we have a truck that can get the job done. There’s a lot of strategy that goes in to when to make moves at the front of the draft, but you have to have the balance and raw speed to go with it. I know our guys have worked hard to bring a fast NAPA Chevy to the track, so we’d like to pay that off and execute well on Saturday.”