Hemric Earns Career-Best NCWTS Start and Finish at Kansas Speedway

Daniel Hemric was off to a stellar start in his Kansas Speedway debut, running second fastest in the weekend’s only practice session and qualifying his No. 14 California Clean Power Chevrolet in the sixth position, his best qualifying effort in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts. Despite battling an extremely tight race truck for the duration of the 250-mile race, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender was able to capture a tenth-place finish, earning his first top 10 of the season and his career-best NCWTS finish.

 

After a mock-qualifying run sent him to the top of the scoring pylon in practice, Hemric carried enough speed to advance to the final round of knockout qualifying, earning a sixth-place starting spot. After taking the green flag for the 167-lap event, Hemric immediately relayed to crew chief Ryan McKinney that his California Clean Power Chevy was tight off of the corners. Hemric was scored in the eighth position when the first caution flag of the night was displayed on lap 12. Opting not to pit so early in the race, the NTS Motorsports crew would not have the opportunity to adjust on the No. 14 Silverado until the second yellow flag on lap 42. Entering the pits in the 11th spot, Hemric exited with four tires, fuel and a track-bar adjustment, maintaining his position for the lap-47 restart. Still battling a tight condition when the caution flag waved once again on lap 67, Hemric was once again provided with four tires and fuel, as well as a wedge adjustment, before returning to the track in the 13th position. A great restart on lap 71 allowed Hemric to jump as high as eighth, but his Chevrolet Silverado was still extremely tight around the 1.5-mile oval, and he quickly dropped back to 13th. The California Clean Power team had one final opportunity to adjust on the No. 14 under caution on lap 111, but Hemric was still tight and scored in the 13th position when the time came to make a green-flag pit stop for a splash of fuel with 17 laps to go. A well-timed stop and flawless navigation on pit road got Hemric back on the track at lightning speed, and the 24-year old was able to crack the top 10 just before the checkered flag waved, crossing the finish line in the 10th position.

 

Daniel Hemric on Kansas Speedway:

“Our California Clean Power Chevrolet Silverado was fast all weekend long. After running second in practice and qualifying sixth, we felt really good going into the race, but once the sun went down, that track was a whole different animal. We still had a lot of speed, but we really fought the balance from start to finish. I’m really proud of everyone at NTS Motorsports; we had really fast pit stops, we didn’t give up and we were able to battle through for a top-10 finish. I feel like this weekend gives us some momentum and information going into Charlotte [Motor Speedway] next weekend. My racing career began in Concord and I grew up just down the road from the track, so it would mean a lot to take the checkered flag in my hometown.”

 

Hemric is currently 11th in the NCWTS Driver Point Standings, just two points outside of the top 10. The Truck Series hits the track once again next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 airs live on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, May 15 at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

NTS Motorspotrs PR