Daniel Hemric Bristol Motor Speedway Recap

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News
Daniel Hemric (@DanielHemric) had a steep hill to climb at Bristol Motor Speedway after a wreck in the opening laps of first practice forced his Brad Keselowski Racing team to go to a backup Blue Gate Bank Ford F-150. However, both team and driver recovered brilliantly again and again, and Hemric rallied from going a lap down, tying his career-best finish of third at the World’s Fastest Half Mile and advancing into the second spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver point standings.
 
Hemric was making his very first lap around the newly resurfaced Bristol Motor Speedway when his Blue Gate Bank Ford snapped around on him, hitting the wall and causing major damage to the truck’s tail. Forced to go to a backup truck, the No. 19 team worked nonstop to have their F-150 prepared for final practice. Quickly rebounding, Hemric made it to the third and final round of knockout qualifying, earning the 12th starting position for the UNOH 200.
 
After teammate Tyler Reddick led the field to the green flag, Hemric quickly found that his truck was too tight, and when the opportunity to visit pit road presented itself on lap 29, he pulled in for four tires, fuel and both air-pressure and track-bar adjustments. Entering the pits in the 19th spot, Hemric emerged in the 23rd position due to some competitors opting not to pit. A competition caution on lap 42 allowed those remaining competitors to come in for service, and with Hemric staying out on the track, he moved up to the 10th spot for the lap 47 restart.
 
The Blue Gate Bank machine was in the ninth position when the field saw its longest green-flag run of the night. Hemric reported to crew chief Chad Kendrick that he needed more turn, and by lap 133 he had dropped back to 12th and was passed by the leader, losing a lap. Fortunately, the yellow flag waved on lap 135, and Hemric was awarded his lap back by virtue of the free pass. Hemric would have to restart at the tail end of the longest line, but first he visited pit road for the final time, taking four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment.
 

Following the green flag on lap 143, Hemric began an impressive march to the front of the field. Breaking back into the top 10 shortly after the restart, Hemric had advanced up to sixth by lap 169, and cracked the top five on lap 182. The final caution flag waved on lap 188 with Hemric in the fifth position, setting up a five-lap shootout to the checkered flag. A strong restart allowed him to dart up to the third position, where he remained until he crossed the finish line. Hemric moved up to second in the driver point standings, but remains 37 points behind the leader.

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