HEMRIC RALLIES LATE FOR SIXTH-PLACE FINISH AT POCONO
Date: June 27, 2021
Event: Pocono Green 225 (Round 16 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Pocono Raceway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Format: 90 laps (Stages: 20 laps / 20 laps / 50 laps)
Start / Finish: 6th / 6th (Running, 90 of 90 laps)
Point Standing: 3rd (568 points, -112 points out of first)
Race Winner: Austin Cindric
Stage 1 Winner: Harrison Burton
Stage 2 Winner: Ty Gibbs
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-20)
Daniel Hemric started Sunday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway from the sixth position and finished second in stage one.
The Poppy Bank Toyota Supra proved to be stout early in Sunday’s race as Hemric grabbed three spots in the opening two laps and moved up to second prior to the first caution on lap 11.
After choosing to restart in the outside lane, Hemric settled into second behind teammate Harrison Burton as the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers finished 1-2 in stage one.
Crew chief Dave Rogers called Hemric to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel, and a minor air pressure adjustment between stages.
Stage 2 Recap (Laps 21-40)
Hemric started fifth and finished 21st in stage two.
On the restart to begin the second segment, Hemric quickly moved from fifth to third before an accident exiting turn one forced NASCAR to wave the red flag for an extensive cleanup.
The Poppy Bank Supra lined up fourth for a restart on lap 29 and Hemric muscled his way into the lead on lap 32.
The Kannapolis, North Carolina native maintained the lead until a caution on lap 35 brought most of the leaders to pit road. NASCAR penalized Hemric for speeding on pit road and dropped the No. 18 Supra to the rear of the field when the race resumed.
In the final two laps of the second stage, Hemric rallied from 30th to 21st. Rogers told Hemric to stay out between stages and moved him back inside the top 15 to begin the final stage.
Stage 3 Recap (Laps 41-90)
Hemric started the final stage 13th and finished sixth in Sunday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.
The Poppy Bank Supra rejoined the top 10 on lap 50 and Hemric was back inside the top five six laps later.
With the leaders having to pit again for fuel, Hemric reassumed the lead on lap 58.
The No. 18 team stayed on track for longer than everyone else and eventually called Hemric to pit road on lap 71 for four fresh tires and fuel. NASCAR penalized the Poppy Bank Supra for speeding on pit road again and required Hemric to serve a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions.
Hemric cycled around outside the top 10 with less than 15 laps remaining and spent the remainder of the race consistently turning the fastest laps on track as he climbed back up to sixth by the time the checkered flag waved.
Additional Notes
Ty Gibbs led Joe Gibbs Racing with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s race. Hemric ended the day sixth with Brandon Jones seventh and Harrison Burton 37th.
Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 18 Poppy Bank Toyota Supra
No win today, but a lot of speed today for you Daniel.
“Not only speed but speeding on pit road. We had an unbelievable Poppy Bank Toyota Supra. I am so proud of Dave Rogers (crew chief). Not only this week, but every week to bring the best racecars that we can. That was for sure the best JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) Toyota that I’ve had. It’s tough to swallow when you give them away like that. I don’t know if I just mis-executed on my lights or what. I thought I gave enough back, especially after the first time, but I just sped again under green and that was it for us. I’m proud of these guys. I don’t know what else you can do. You just have to keep showing up and hope it will turn around.”
Next Up: The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Road America next weekend for road racing at the 4.048-mile course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The race will be broadcast live Saturday, July 3, at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
-JGR-
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