Pocono Raceway
June 28, 2020
Track Specs: 2.5-mile oval / 90 laps
Weather: Sunny; 81 degrees
No. 8 OnDeck Capital Chevrolet Camaro
Start: 8th
Finish: 28th
Synopsis:
Daniel Hemric, driver of the No. 8 OnDeck Capital Chevrolet, was fighting for position inside the top three following a lap 52 restart in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Pocono Raceway before contact on the exit of Turn 1 with another car triggered a multi-car incident that sent the JR Motorsports Camaro hard into the outside retaining wall. The subsequent damage from the incident left Hemric unable to continue, ending his afternoon shy of the scheduled distance and ultimately resulting in a 28th-place finish.
Stage One Finish: 10th
Hemric took the green flag for the 90-lap event from the eighth position after the starting lineup was once again set via a blind draw earlier in the week. Taking advantage of a flurry of cautions in the opening laps, Hemric methodically climbed the leaderboard before reporting to crew chief Taylor Moyer that the OnDeck Capital Chevrolet was too loose rolling through Pocono’s three distinct corners. Although not handling to his liking, Hemric remained inside the top 10 throughout the caution-riddled opening stage, taking the green-and-white checkered at the end of Stage One on lap 20 in the 10th position and earning one valuable stage point in the process.
Stage Two Finish: 4th
During the stage-ending caution, Moyer called the driver of the OnDeck Capital Chevrolet to pit road for four tires and a chassis adjustment in the hopes of alleviating the loose-handling condition. Returning to the track following the stop in seventh for the lap 26 restart, Hemric wasted little time moving forward, charging into the top five and up to the fourth position by the time the caution-free second stage came to a close on lap 40. With the stage result, the No. 8 team netted a total of eight valuable points across Stages One and Two.
Final Stage: 28th
Prior to the beginning of the final stage of the afternoon, Moyer made the decision to bring Hemric back to pit road for four tires and another round of adjustments after the driver of the OnDeck Capital Chevrolet reported that he needed to still turn a little better through the corners. As a result of the stop, the Kannapolis, N.C. native lined up for the lap 44 restart in the fifth position. Once back underway, Hemric battled hard for position inside the top five until the field was slowed once again on lap 48 for an incident down the front straightaway.
While under caution, the decision was made for Hemric to remain out on the track as the race leaders went with a variety of different pit strategies. The call to stay out moved the JRM driver up to the third position for the lap 52 restart. The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year continued to fight for position inside the top three as the field exited Turn 1 when contact between two cars on the outside line knocked the OnDeck Capital Chevrolet sideways and hard into the outside retaining wall. Hemric was unable to get moving again as a result of the damage, ultimately ending his afternoon prematurely.
In the end, Hemric was scored with a 28th-place finish.
Daniel Hemric, driver No. 8 OnDeck Capital Chevrolet team
“Man, that was a bad situation off of Turn 1. We were able to get our OnDeck Capital Chevrolet into a good position there on that last restart and were trying to work with our teammate in the (No.) 9 on the exit of the corner when a couple cars got together on the outside and sent us for a ride. It’s just really unfortunate but I’m proud of all of the effort from everyone at JR Motorsports to continuously build these fast racecars. We’ll be back and have our shots to fight for wins for sure.”
Next up:
Hemric returns to the No. 8 Chevrolet in two weeks for the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, July 10.
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