Hemric’s Strong Start to Playoffs Continues with Fourth-Place Finish at Talladega
Date: October 2, 2021
Event: Sparks 300 (Race 28 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile superspeedway)
Format: 113 laps (Stages: 25 laps / 25 laps / 63 laps)
Start / Finish: 6th / 4th (Running, 107 of 107 laps)
Point Standing: 3rd (2095 points, -36 points out of first)
Race Winner: Brandon Brown
Stage 1 Winner: John Hunter Nemechek
Stage 2 Winner: Blaine Perkins
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-25)
Daniel Hemric started Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway from the sixth position and finished 10th in stage one.
The Poppy Bank Toyota Supra spent the first segment running amongst the lead group. At one point, Joe Gibbs Racing drivers ran 1-2-3-4.
Late in the stage, Hemric was shuffled back and ultimately ended up 10th when the segment concluded on lap 25.
Between stages, crew chief Dave Rogers called Hemric to pit road for left-side tires and fuel. The strategy play gained the No. 18 team four positions.
Stage 2 Recap (Laps 26-50)
Hemric started sixth and finished 13th in stage two.
The Poppy Bank Supra ran third for most of the stage as the field ran single-file around the high lane.
The outside lane lost momentum in the closing laps of the segment and Hemric fell back to 13th when the green-checkered flag waved on lap 50.
Rogers brought Hemric to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel on lap 52.
Stage 3 Recap (Laps 51-107)
Hemric started the final stage in the 19th position and finished fourth in Saturday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.
The No. 18 Supra moved back up the leaderboard early in the final segment.
On lap 70, Hemric and his JGR teammates pitted for fuel only and he was back inside the top 10 when the caution waved again on lap 75.
He restarted seventh on lap 80 and ran inside the top 10 as the laps counted down.
Hemric narrowly avoided a multi-car accident on lap 89 and was scored eighth.
Following a brief red-flag period, the Poppy Bank Supra restarted fifth on lap 94.
Hemric remained in the top five until a multi-car accident behind him on lap 102 sent the race to yet another caution.
With storm clouds rolling in and darkness looming, NASCAR was forced to end the race six laps early because of a lack of visibility. Hemric was credited with a fourth-place finish.
Additional Notes
Hemric is one of only two drivers (Justin Allgaier) to earn top-five finishes in the first two races of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
The No. 18 team’s fourth-place finish marks their fourth consecutive top-10 finish – matching their best stretch set earlier this season.
Brandon Jones led Joe Gibbs Racing with a runner-up finish in Saturday’s race. Hemric ended up fourth with John Hunter Nemechek 22nd and Harrison Burton 25th.
Next Up: The NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12 wraps up next weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. The race will be broadcast live Saturday, October 9, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. -JGR-