HEMRIC OVERCOMES LATE ACCIDENT TO FINISH 13TH AT NASHVILLE
Date: June 19, 2021
Event: Tennessee Lottery 250 (Round 15 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile tri-oval)
Format: 188 laps (Stages: 45 laps / 45 laps / 98 laps)
Start / Finish: 4th / 13th (Running, 189 of 189 laps)
Point Standing: 3rd (528 points, -100 points out of first)
Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Stage 1 Winner: Austin Cindric
Stage 2 Winner: Kyle Busch
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-45)
Daniel Hemric started Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway from the fourth position and finished third in stage one.
In the Xfinity Series’ first visit to Music City since 2011, Hemric ran inside the top five for the entire opening 45-lap stage.
As the laps wound down, the Poppy Bank Toyota Supra passed Joe Gibbs Racing driver Harrison Burton for the third position on lap 44. Hemric held on to the spot through the end of the segment.
Following the stage, crew chief Dave Rogers called Hemric to pit road for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment.
Stage 2 Recap (Laps 46-90)
Hemric started third and finished third in stage two.
On the restart to begin stage two, Hemric rocketed into second behind teammate Kyle Busch. The JGR duo held the top two positions until another caution waved on lap 70.
Hemric reported that his Poppy Bank Supra still needed more front grip as he slipped back to third before the stage ended on lap 90.
During the stage break, Rogers brought Hemric to pit road for four tires, fuel and to undo the team’s previous adjustments.
Stage 3 Recap (Laps 91-189)
Hemric started the final stage third and finished 13th in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.
The Poppy Bank Supra transitioned to being too tight for Hemric early in the final stage. As a result, he dropped to sixth at one point, but rebounded to fifth before another caution on lap 141 brought everyone to pit road for the final time.
Hemric restarted fourth on lap 149 and quickly reclaimed the third position before yet another caution six laps later.
With 29 laps remaining, the Poppy Bank Supra restarted fourth and Hemric raced door to door with Michael Annett’s No. 1 car for the third position. The two leaders ahead made slight contact that forced Hemric and Annett to move lower on the track. In the process of moving low, the two cars made contact and triggered an accident that sent Hemric’s No. 18 Supra into the outside wall exiting turn four. The Poppy Bank team made several pit stops to repair Hemric’s car and kept him on the lead lap.
Hemric was scored 22nd on a restart with 20 laps to go. Through another pair of cautions and restarts, he fought his way back up to 13th when the checkered flag waved.
Additional Notes
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch claimed his 100th NASCAR Xfinity Series victory. The win is his third of the 2021 season and the fifth for Joe Gibbs Racing overall.
Busch went to victory lane while JGR drivers Harrison Burton and Brandon Jones finished third and sixth, respectively, with Hemric rounding out the results in 13th.
Next Up: The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Pennsylvania for next weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway. The race will be broadcast live Sunday, June 27, at 12 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
-JGR-
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