HEMRIC FINISHES 29TH AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
Date: May 22, 2021
Event: Pit Boss 250 (Round 11 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Circuit of The Americas (3.41-mile road course)
Format: 46 laps (Stages: 14 laps / 16 laps / 16 laps)
Start / Finish: 26th / 29th (Running, 46 of 46 laps)
Point Standing: 4th (383 points, -88 points out of first)
Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Stage 1 Winner: AJ Allmendinger
Stage 2 Winner: Justin Haley
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-14)
Daniel Hemric started Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of The Americas from the rear of the field and finished 26th in stage one.
After qualifying 26th, a mechanical issue forced the No. 18 team to change the transmission prior to the start of Saturday’s race. The penalty for the change was for Hemric to drop to the rear of the field during the pace laps.
On the start, the Poppy Bank Toyota Supra quickly maneuvered up the leaderboard as Hemric cracked the top 20 on Lap 2.
The No. 18 Supra was up to 16th on Lap 7 when Hemric reported that the car was stuck in gear. The misfortune resulted in the No. 18 team having to make an unscheduled pit stop. Quick work by the Poppy Bank crew allowed Hemric to remain on the lead lap.
A caution on Lap 11 presented an opportunity for Hemric to pit for four fresh tires and fuel and line up with the field for a one-lap sprint to end the opening stage.
Hemric restarted 33rd and gained seven positions in one lap to finish 26th in stage one.
Crew chief Dave Rogers instructed Hemric to stay on track between stages and the Poppy Bank Supra moved up to 16th when other cars made their pit stops.
Stage 2 Recap (Laps 15-30)
Hemric started 16th and finished 11th in stage two.
In the first lap following the Lap-18 restart, Hemric climbed from 16th to 12th. One lap later, the Poppy Bank Supra was inside the top 10 for the first time.
On Lap 27, Hemric worked his way inside the top five before making a scheduled pit stop one lap later.
Following the No. 18 team’s pit stop, Hemric was scored 11th because several other cars opted not to pit before the stage ended on Lap 30.
Rogers called for Hemric to stay on track between stages and the No. 18 driver moved up to fifth after six other cars pitted.
Stage 3 Recap (Laps 31-46)
Hemric started the final stage in fifth and finished 29th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of The Americas.
The Poppy Bank Supra grabbed the fourth position on the restart to begin the final stage.
Hemric continued to run fourth until reporting that his Supra was stuck in gear again on Lap 38. The trouble brought him back to pit road for the team to repair the transmission issue once again.
The No. 18 Supra returned to the track in 29th and Hemric held that position for the remainder of the race.
Next Up: The NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will be broadcast live Saturday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
-JGR-