NASCAR Race Mom: John Hunter Nemechek

Showing posts with label John Hunter Nemechek. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2024

NASCAR Race Weekend Recap (Las Vegas)

#NASCAR Race Weekend Recap (Las Vegas)

Winners: Kyle Larson (Cup); John Hunter Nemechek (Xfinity); Rajah Caruth (Trucks)

NASCAR Cup

Kyle Larson holds off Tyler Reddick for the #Win

Kyle Larson had to use all his consummate skills behind the wheel to hold off Tyler Reddick after a restart with 27 laps left. Larson had short-run speed, enough to build significant advantages early in a run.

But Reddick began closing the gap, so much so that with two laps left, Reddick was a scant 0.143 seconds behind Larson at the stripe, roughly one car length.

Larson, however, was adept at putting his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in a position to block the progress of Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, and when the race ended two laps later, Larson had increased the margin to 0.441 seconds.

“I knew Tyler was going to be the guy to beat from the first stage,” said Larson, who won for the first time this season and the 24th time in his career. “He was really fast there. I was hoping those guys were going to get racing a little bit longer behind me because I felt like it was going to time out where he was running really hard and getting the tow to catch me at the end.

“Thankfully, (I) was able to air block him a couple laps and get him tight. I thought him and (23XI teammate) Bubba (Wallace) were going to get working together again to build a run, so I was happy that didn’t happen.

“But all in all, such a great job by this Hendrick Cars Chevy team and just their execution, pit road, restarts — all that was great. Cool to get a win here at Vegas again. Back-to-back, swept all the stages again. Can’t ask for much more.”

Vegas!!! Amazing job by this 5 team. Feels great to be back in victory lane here! 🏁🎰 pic.twitter.com/vtLBGs3sx4
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) March 4, 2024

Pole: Joey Logano

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET for the Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Xfinity

John Hunter Nemechek, JGR Dominate Xfinity Series Race

The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates (Chandler Smith and John Hunter Nemechek) spent most of Saturday afternoon racing each other for the top spot in The LiUNA!, a 300-mile NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was Nemechek who proved superior in the long run.

After Smith won the first two stages of the race — the second with a deft last-lap pass of Nemechek’s No. 20 Toyota — Nemechek asserted his dominance.

By the time Nemechek crossed the finish line at the end of Lap 200, he held a 4.360-second lead over pole winner Cole Custer, who had charged into second place after a late cycle of green-flag pit stops.

“Hats off to all the guys on this 20 team for Joe Gibbs Racing, said Nemechek, who led a race-high 99 laps in securing his first victory of the season, his first at Las Vegas and the 10th of his career.

“Man, it’s awesome to come out here and win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a limited number of starts. Our goal is to come and win as many as we possibly could. Nothing else matters.

Bett’n on 20🎰#teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/P1iL6KHOlO
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) March 3, 2024

Pole: Cole Custer

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET for the Call811.Com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Trucks

Rajah Caruth Collects First Career #Win

Rajah Caruth celebrated a historic night by becoming the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race, etching his name alongside Hall of Fame trailblazer Wendell Scott and current-day Cup Series star Bubba Wallace.

The 21-year-old driver punctuated the moment with a professional-grade smoky burnout that made him look like a seasoned veteran, far removed from his earlier Late Model triumphs at Hickory and Tri-County in the North Carolina foothills and light-years away from his iRacing roots.

“I’m pretty speechless. It’s been a tough journey so far,” said Rajah Caruth, now in his second full season of Truck Series competition. His first truck win arrived in his 30th start. “A lot of people have helped me get to this point. Thank you to every single one of y’all. Definitely ups and downs, but this journey has been fruitful at times and testing at times. … This winter was a lot of uncertainty about where I’d be driving, not having a bunch of funding behind me at the time. I just stayed true to my faith and my family. Fortunately, a lot of people put a lot of stuff together for me to be in this spot.”

Smoke comin’ out the Car-oof! 💨@rajahcaruth_ | #VictoriasVoice200 pic.twitter.com/8FUGf3sxVq
— Las Vegas Motor Speedway (@LVMotorSpeedway) March 2, 2024

Pole: Rajah Caruth

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, March. 16, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET for the Weather Guard Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

ARCA

No ARCA Event

Next Race: The ARCA Series and the ARCA West Series Friday, March 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET. for the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway.

source: NASCAR Media

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Nemechek Goes All-In for Liuna Crown

John Hunter joined his father, Joe, as NXS winners at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

It was a race that will soon have its own page in the Nemechek family scrapbook, as John Hunter Nemechek joined his father, Joe, as NASCAR Xfinity Series winners Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was the younger Nemechek’s 10th win in the series.

Nemechek also won the 2021 edition of the NASCAR Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and etched his name next to the elder Nemechek, who claimed the 2003 NASCAR Xfinity Series shootout in Las Vegas.

“I love winning. I love winning races,” said Nemechek. “But to be able to win 10 Xfinity races is a pretty big accomplishment.”

Nemechek started 12th in the No. 20 Safeway/Albertsons Toyota and found his way to the front of the pack quickly to lead just shy of 100 laps on the day.

Pole winner Cole Custer was second well over four seconds behind Nemechek, Chandler Smith took third and Austin Hill’s unbeaten streak to start the year was halted with a fourth-place showing. Las Vegan Riley Herbst tried to make it back-to-back wins at his home track and challenged for the lead late but eventually took fifth.

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Smith and Nemechek swept all stages as the tandem combined to lead for 173 of 200 laps. It was Smith’s third consecutive top-five finish to open the season to move up to second in the point standings.

When asked what he will remember most about this victory, Nemechek responded, “It’s Vegas. What is there not to remember about Vegas?”

He added, “I’ve always run really well here. Don’t really know what, but I guess it always fits my racing style.”

Facing 32 mph sustains wins with gusts up to 65 mph, Custer led the field from outside on the opening lap and was joined three-wide by Smith and AJ Allmendinger off Turn 1. That set the tone for an aggressive race, as Smith and Allmendinger joined Nemechek to go three-wide again on Lap 14.

Smith, who qualified in the No. 2 spot, won the opening stage and held the lead until Lap 49, when he fell to seventh after jack issues during his pit stop. He went on to capture Stage 2 and paced the field for 74 laps on the day.

Nemechek went to the front on Lap 55 but was caught by Smith on Lap 89. The duo traded leads a half dozen times over the next 20 laps.

After Josh Williams pushed his ride to the limit and pitted on Lap 190, Nemechek regained the lead for good and coasted to the win.

Bett’n on 20🎰#teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/P1iL6KHOlO
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) March 3, 2024

source: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media

Saturday, October 28, 2023

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads Back to the ‘Paperclip’

Sammy Smith Starts on Pole

Next Race: Dead On Tools 250
The Place: Martinsville Speedway
The Date: Saturday, October 28
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,380,935
TV: USA, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 131.5 miles (250 Laps)
Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60)
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120)
Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)

As the series winds down the 2023 season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will now be heading to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race – the Dead On Tools 250 today at 3:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio).

This will be the 41st NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The previous 40 races have produced 26 different race winners and 21 different pole winners. Only six races have been won from the pole or first starting position, but it’s been over 35 years since a driver was able to accomplish the feat – most recently by Jimmy Hensley in 1987.

This season will be the fourth consecutive year that Martinsville Speedway serves as the penultimate, or sixth race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, the elimination race of the Round of 8 (2020 – 2023). The track was not on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule from 2007 to 2019.

A few drivers have been able to etch their names in the Martinsville Speedway record books – Sam Ard (most wins – five), Brett Bodine (most poles - five), Dale Jarrett (most top fives – 11), Jimmy Hensley and Tommy Houston (tied for most top 10s – 17), and Tommy Ellis (most laps led – 713).

Three drivers in the field have already taken the checkered flag at the 0.526-mile track, one of which is a Playoff contender – John Hunter Nemechek (2023), along with Brandon Jones (2022) and Josh Berry (2021).

Although he hasn’t won a race at Martinsville Speedway. JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier could also be a favorite to win this weekend as he knows what it takes to win the penultimate race of the season. In 2019, he won the final race in the Round of 8 when it was held at Phoenix Raceway.

Biggest lap of the night.

Ride with @sammysmithSS on the way to P1! pic.twitter.com/lP619Pd79x
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 27, 2023

Here are the starting positions of the 38 NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers at Martinsville Speedway:

#18 - Sammy Smith
#7 - Justin Allgaier
#00 - Cole Custer
#98 - Riley Herbst
#20 - John Hunter Nemechek
#9 - Brandon Jones
#16 - Chandler Smith
#2 - Sheldon Creed
#21 - Austin Hill
#31 - Parker Retzlaff
#19 - Myatt Snider
#8 - Josh Berry
#39 - Ryan Sieg
#10 - Daniel Hemric
#48 - Parker Kligerman
#25 - Brett Moffitt
#1 - Sam Mayer
#91 - Josh Bilicki
#11 - Layne Riggs
#51 - Jeremy Clements
#4 - JJ Yeley
#78 - Anthony Alfredo
#26 - Kaz Grala
#92 - Josh Williams
#24 - Connor Mosack
#44 - Rajah Caruth
#6 - Brennan Poole
#29 - Kyle Sieg
#45 - Jeffrey Earnhardt
#08 - Chad Finchum
#02 - Blaine Perkins
#43 - Ryan Ellis
#38 - Joe Graf, Jr.
#28 - CJ McLaughlin
#35 - Chris Hacker
#53 - Akinori Ogata
#07 - Devin Jones
#27 - Jeb Burton

Up next, the #DeadOnTools250 at @MartinsvilleSwy.

LIVE @ 3:00 PM ET

📻 https://t.co/D39O4UrRNU
🖥️ https://t.co/wCQ8y1RhN4
📱 https://t.co/PXmmwIn6h6 @SIRIUSXM Channel 90 pic.twitter.com/8nLsxdGhzv
— Motor Racing Network (@MRNRadio) October 28, 2023

source: NASCAR Media

Saturday, October 21, 2023

John Hunter Nemechek – Double Duty

Nemechek to pull double duty in South Florida

John Hunter Nemechek, who is currently leading the Xfinity Series standings, will have a full weekend ahead of him at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he will be pulling double duty.

After running in the Contender Boats 300, he will get behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Legacy Motorsports (the car he will drive full time next season) for his first start in the Cup Series of the 2023 season. He’s made a total of 40 starts in the Cup Series (2019, 2020, 2022), posting three top 10s.

His last start in the Cup Series was last season at Homestead where he finished 27th.

Homestead-Miami Speedway Stats

NCS: Starts: 3;

Best Start: 4th (2022);
Best Finish: 19th (2020)

NXS: Starts: 2;

Best Start: 3rd (2018);
Best Finish: 3rd (2018);
Top-5s: 1;
Top-10s: 2;
Laps Led: 52

NCTS: Starts: 5;

Best Start: 2nd (2015);
Best Finish: 2nd (2015);
Top-5s: 1;
Top-10s: 2;
Laps Led: 24

2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season Stats

Starts: 30; Wins: 7

(Auto Club, Martinsville I, Atlanta I, New Hampshire, Michigan, Kansas II, Texas);

Poles: 2

(Darlington I & Darlington II);

Top-5s: 16,
Top-10s: 23;
Current Points Position: 1st (+47)

Las Vegas blog out now.⏯️https://t.co/JJCFPFJTjo pic.twitter.com/5ZkaMp5Pck
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) October 19, 2023

Homestead Experience: Nemechek has competed in 10 races across NASCAR's three national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including three Cup Series starts, two Xfinity Series starts, and five Truck Series starts. Last year, he drove in a one-off Cup race with 23XI Racing, marking his only start to date with the NextGen car. He took to the car quickly, qualifying in fourth and driving in the top-five throughout the day. An early spin relegated Nemechek to a 27th-place finish, but the added track time was certainly a positive note. Prior to that race, he attended an organizational test session at the track, where he made laps for two full days which helped lay the groundwork for a solid weekend.

Quoting John Hunter Nemechek: How valuable will this race be to prepare you for next season, when you make your return to Cup full-time?

"I think having this opportunity will be huge for us. When I raced in the Cup Series before, it was with the older-style Gen 6 car, so I don't have all that much experience with the NextGen car. There's been so much cooperation to be able to pull this off, whether that be from between the manufacturers and both of the teams, and I'm really thankful that everyone was able to work together to make this possible. We're not going to put much pressure on ourselves this weekend, but I'll look at it more as a great opportunity to learn and prepare. I had a chance to run this race last year, but a lot has changed since then that I'll likely still need to get acclimated. With the small amount of practice that I'll have, I'll definitely lean on Luke (Lambert)'s experience and talk in-depth with Erik (Jones). We still have a championship to fight for on Saturday, so I don't want to take anything away from my No. 20 guys, but I am really looking forward to stepping in the No. 42 car for the first time this weekend."

source: Legacy Motor Club Media

Friday, September 15, 2023

Nemechek and Hill are NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Nemechek and Hill are #NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Food City 300 Xfinity Playoff Opener Tonight

Food City 300 Xfinity Series Playoff Opener Tonight

For the first time in NASCAR history Bristol Motor Speedway will serve as host to a Playoff race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The longtime home of the final Xfinity regular season race, Bristol is now the Round of 12 kick-off race.

While the Playoff opener is a huge deal and the 12 Playoff contenders will share the majority of headlines, one moonlighting driver is also garnering his share of the spotlight.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who famously coined the phrase “It’s Bristol, baby!” is suiting up to race at the iconic short track for the first time since he retired from full-time driving in 2017. Earnhardt will be at the controls of the blue, yellow and white No. 88 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Chevy for JR Motorsports, giving his team five entries in what promises to be a very thrilling Food City 300 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio) on Friday night.

John Hunter Nemechek

Six-time season winner John Hunter Nemechek comes to Bristol as the Playoff top seed, fresh off a win in Kansas, where he dominated the action and took the checkered flag a full seven seconds in front of the second-place finisher. The veteran driver of the No. 20 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, has posted 13 top fives and 19 top 10s in a season that he has been out front for most of the time.

“I’m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started at Bristol," Nemechek said. "We came (to Kansas) trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that’s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could. So, let’s go to the Playoffs—I’m ready.”

An unforgettable weekend in Kansas! 🏁
Check out our exclusive YouTube video for an inside look at what all went down.🎥#youtube pic.twitter.com/W5RCfRGNM2
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) September 14, 2023

Austin Hill

Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is right there behind Nemechek, and ironically claimed the regular season Xfinity title in his No. 21 Chevy. Hill won four times and posted 15 top fives and claimed 19 top 10s and certainly plans to battle door handle to door handle with Nemechek down the stretch.

“Just happy that we were able to bring home the Regular Season Championship, get the extra 15 bonus points--which is huge,” said Hill, who finished fifth in the regular season-finale. “But we’ve got to go to work. We’ve got to be better. The 20 (Nemechek) was the class of the field all day (at Kansas).”

In addition to Nemechek and Hill, there is a strong group of drivers among the 12 Playoff qualifiers, including former Bristol winner Justin Allgaier, and a host of drivers who have won at Bristol in either the Trucks or the ARCA series, including Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith.

Five other drivers have tons of experience and are expected to make some Playoff noise come Friday night, including Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Hemric and Parker Kligerman.

Trevor Bayne

Two local Knoxville standouts are also in the field, as FOX race analyst Trevor Bayne, winner of the 2011 Daytona 500, will drive the No. 19 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, and past Bristol ARCA winner Chad Finchum will pilot the No. 08 machine for SS GreenLight Racing.

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

Monday, September 11, 2023

NASCAR and ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Kansas Speedway)

Winners: Tyler Reddick (Cup); John-Hunter-Nemechek (Xfinity); Christian Eckes (Trucks); Connor Mosack (ARCA)

NASCAR Cup

Tyler Reddick Cashes in at Kansas, Advances in Cup Series Playoffs

With a bold move to the front of the field in overtime, Tyler Reddick won Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 and left his car owner frustrated at the end of the second NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway.

Reddick beat Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin to the finish line by 0.327 seconds. Hamlin led 63 laps and was more than two seconds ahead of Reddick when playoff driver Chris Buescher blew a right-rear tire on Lap 261 of a scheduled 267 to cause the ninth and final caution.

“Just an outstanding job by this whole 23XI team,” Reddick said after climbing out of the window of his No. 45 Toyota during his celebratory burnout.

“We had really good pace, but just couldn’t get ahead of Denny there, but chaos ensued, people stayed out, some took two tires, and the bottom lane opened up. Pretty crazy.”

P2 as driver. P1 as owner. Congrats @TylerReddick and @23XIRacing. @ToyotaRacing does it again at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/oyVNaGywwB
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 10, 2023

Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30 PM ET for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity

John Hunter Nemechek Rolls to Kansas Victory; Xfinity Playoffs Field Set

There were no mixed feelings on Parker Kligerman‘s part — he was ecstatic that John Hunter Nemechek asserted absolute domination over the rest of the field in Saturday‘s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.

Nemechek‘s sixth victory of the season assured Kligerman, who finished a strong fourth, of a berth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, which open next Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“(Crew chief) Ben (Beshore) and all the guys made the right adjustments all day,” said Nemechek, who won for the second time at Kansas and the eighth time in his career. “They brought a really fast hot rod. … Overall, just super pumped, super ecstatic.

“I‘m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started next week at Bristol. We came in here trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that‘s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could.

“So, let‘s go to the playoffs — I‘m ready.”

Win #6 for the No. 20 crew!🏁#teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/AiKcriN8Pf
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) September 10, 2023

Pole: Justin Allgaier

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Friday, Sept. 15, 7:30 PM ET for the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

Christian Eckes Seals Truck Series Victory at Kansas; Playoffs' Round of 8 Set

Christian Eckes grabbed the lead on the final restart and stole a victory in Friday night‘s Kansas Lottery 200, the Round of 10 elimination race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

In a three-wide battle for the lead against Corey Heim and Zane Smith, Eckes led only the final two laps to secure his third victory of the season, his first at Kansas Speedway and the fourth of his career.

“That was wild,” Eckes said after climbing from his truck. “I didn‘t know if I was going to win it or not. We had, like, a sixth-place truck all day, but when that caution came out, I knew we had a shot at it, and here we are.

“We haven‘t won in a real long time — so I wanted to set a tone. Went all the way to the Round of 10 — second, third, first (in the first three playoff races). So can‘t beat that. Proud of all these guys.”

And with that, @christianeckes is off to the Round of 8!#KansasLottery200 pic.twitter.com/Od1CfNbuL6
— Kansas Speedway (@kansasspeedway) September 9, 2023

Pole: Chase Purdy

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday, Sept. 14, 9:00 PM ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.

ARCA

Connor Mosack Breaks through for First ARCA Victory at Kansas Speedway

Many notable names have taken home an ARCA Menards Series checkered flag in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota.

Connor Mosack added his name to that list during Friday’s Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 at Kansas Speedway. He pulled away from the field following some early attrition to earn his maiden ARCA Menards Series victory, becoming the seventh first-time winner in 2023

With Jesse Love and Dean Thompson both eliminated from contention earlier in the evening due to separate issues, Mosack cruised to the finish for a milestone victory he believed was overdue for himself and Joe Gibbs Racing.

“We’ve worked hard all year,” Mosack said. “There’s been some bad luck and I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but this one came together for us. I wish we could have had [Love and Thompson] to race there and I felt like we were a little bit better [than them].

“We earned that one, but we earned a few earlier this year and gave them away.”

Connor crushes Kansas.#XfinitySeries driver @connormosack picks up his first career @ARCA_Racing 🏁 at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/kAAtfNaoq2
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 9, 2023

Pole: Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Thursday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. ET for the Bristol 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

source: NASCAR Media

Monday, August 7, 2023

NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Race Weekend Recap (Michigan International Speedway; Berlin Raceway)

#NASCAR / #ARCA / #SRX Race Weekend Recap (Michigan International Speedway; Berlin Raceway)

Winners: Chris Buescher (Cup); John Hunter Nemechek (Xfinity); Jesse Love (ARCA) plus Kyle Busch (SRX)

NASCAR Cup

Chris Buescher wards off Truex, goes back-to-back with victory at Michigan

After rain forced this Monday race; in an extended, dramatic, nail-biting green-flag run to the finish, Chris Buescher held off hard-charging Martin Truex Jr. to win his second straight Cup Series race. With team co-owner Brad Keselowski finishing fourth and Buescher winning – the ninth straight victory for Ford drivers at the 2-mile speedway – RFK can claim bragging rights as the top Ford team in the Cup garage, at least for now.

“This Castrol Mustang was so good in practice, qualifying,” said Buescher, who picked up his fourth career victory. “Gave me a great car again. Had to work for that one, too, hard racing at the end.

“Martin was very clean with me. I appreciate that. Get to go to Victory Lane two weeks in a row. That’s pretty awesome.”

Déjà vu!!! pic.twitter.com/ycwpL7px1W
— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) August 7, 2023

Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Unofficial Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on 08/13/2023 for the The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

NASCAR Xfinity

John Hunter Nemechek prevails at Michigan, lands JGR’s 200th Xfinity win

Overcoming an early wreck, a late caution and an angry teammate (Ty Gibbs), John Hunter Nemechek claimed a milestone victory in Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

The NASCAR Xfinity win was the 200th in the series for Joe Gibbs Racing. For Nemechek, it was the fifth victory of the season and the seventh of his career – all at different tracks.

With all the success Nemechek has had this year and with seven career wins in the Xfinity Series, there is growing interest in what his plans are next year perhaps as a Cup driver.

“I'm 100% focused on this year and trying to win the Xfinity championship,” he said. “I don’t know what my plans are for ’24. I have no clue.”

With the victory, Nemechek gained a tie with Austin Hill for the series points lead. Nemechek owns the potential tiebreaker with five victories to Hill’s four.

NEWS: No issues in post-race inspection for the No. 20 car!@JHNemechek's fifth win of 2023 is official! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/hU7rVIIh8o
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 5, 2023

Pole: Josh Berry

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on 08/12/2013 for the Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

NASCAR Trucks

Off Week for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

With the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff field set, the series took a week off from competition.

The playoffs will consist of three rounds, starting with the Round of 10 before continuing with the Round of 8 and concluding with the Championship 4. The Round of 10 consists of races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the Milwaukee Mile and Kansas Speedway, while the Round of 8 will occur at Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Championship 4 race will be held at Phoenix Raceway.

Coming soon. #NASCARPlayoffs

FRIDAY | 9 PM ET | FS1 pic.twitter.com/ODuBqpi5D3
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 5, 2023

Pole: N/A

Click Here for Race Results N/A

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on 08/11/2023 for the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

ARCA

Jesse Love battles exhaustion, rivals to claim an impressive win

Jesse Love entered Friday’s ‘Henry Ford Health 200’ having won five races in 2023, easily the most in the ARCA Menards Series this year.

The ARCA championship points leader’s sixth victory came in arguably the most chaotic — and, in his case, exhausting — event of the season.

“Just a lot of good guys around us,” a spent Love said, referring to his Venturini team. “Lost our cool suit, lost the helmet blower, feet blower went out from the heat you get. Just everything.

“I feel like I’m in pretty good shape. I go on runs with my dog Buck every day. … But I’m definitely worn out.”

UNDENIABLE!@jesselovejr1 wins the Henry Ford Health 200 at @MISpeedway!@FS1 | @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/uk0l0EcWIy
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 4, 2023

Pole: Andres Perez de Lara

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA East Series will return on 08/11/2023 for the Reese’s 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Superstar Racing Experience

Kyle Busch Makes It an SRX Two-for-Two

#NASCAR Star, KyleBusch dominated again for the second consecutive SRX race in as many starts on Thursday night at Berlin Raceway, just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, adding to his triumph last week at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia.

“Just being here before, knowing what to expect, all that sort of stuff,” Busch said after taking the checkered flag at a track he’s appeared several times in other events, including prior Late Model races.

“I thought about restarting in fourth (in the final restart of the race, late in the event) and I thought, ‘Don’t just change it up now, just stick with what I was doing.’”

“Yeah, this is my two-for-two,” said Busch added, whose car was sponsored in both races by the NHL’s Florida Panthers. “I’d love to come back. I’m out for the year, but the rest of these guys can put on a show for you.”

ROWDY STAYS UNDEFEATED!

Hear from Race 4 winner, @KyleBusch , following an impressive victory at Berlin Raceway in this week’s edition of Thursday Night Thunder.#CampingWorldSRX | @FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/N6LolpCRT4
— Superstar Racing Experience (@SRXracing) August 4, 2023

Pole:Kyle Busch (by draw)

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Superstar Racing Experience will return on 08/10/2023 for race five of six in the series at Eldora Speedway

source: NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Media

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Nemechek Captures First Victory at “The Magic Mile”

New Hampshire Motor Speedway ‘Ambetter Health 200’

The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) makes one annual visit to the Granite State each year, and the latest visit may just have cemented a new championship contender.

John Hunter Nemechek avoided several multi-car wrecks and held on through two late restarts, including a green-white-checkered finish on his way to a victory in the Ambetter Health 200 NXS race on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS).

Driving the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Nemechek collected his NXS-leading fourth win of the season, the sixth of his career and his first at “The Magic Mile.” It was also Joe Gibbs Racing’s 199th career NASCAR victory.

“I am so proud of this 20 team,” said Nemechek, who led a race-high 137 laps. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity. Hats off to all of our guys at Joe Gibbs Racing, and a huge shout-out to all of the fans here. I love coming up here [to New Hampshire].”

Nemechek, a 26-year-old North Carolina native, was up front much of the way, allowing him to miss several big wrecks throughout the race, including nine-car crash following a restart at lap 70, a three-car spin in turn one on lap 196 that led to the green-white-checkered finish and a two-car collision just after he took the white flag, leading to his victory under caution.

That one felt good!✊#TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/lVYQwzvXYm
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) July 15, 2023

“I was a little worried on the last restart,” said Nemechek, who has raced full-time in all three NASCAR national series. “I didn’t know who was saving what. I’m so thankful to sit behind the wheel of this 20 car.

“The goal has been to win races, but that’s very hard to do. There’s some really tough competition for sure. We’re going to do everything we can to be there at the end.”

Pole-winner Chandler Smith (10 laps led) finished second, with Austin Hill placing third, Daniel Hemric in fourth and Sammy Smith (stage two winner, 18 laps led) in fifth. Justin Allgaier led 27 laps and won stage one before finishing sixth.

“We definitely have some work to do with this package,” said Hill, who trails leader Nemechek by 33 points in the NXS standings. “For us to salvage a third-place finish, with us not having that great of a car, we’ll take it and move on.”

Notable finishes among New England natives included Kaz Grala (Boston, Mass.) placing 13th in a backup car following a crash in practice. C.J. McLaughlin (Framingham, Mass.) came in 28th, Parker Kligerman (Greenwich, Conn.) was 32nd and Anthony Alfredo (Ridgefield, Conn.) finished 34th.

Nemechek completed the overtime-aided 206-lap event in two hours, 38 minutes, 40 seconds, averaging 82.417 mph with 20 cars finishing on the lead lap. Seven leaders exchanged the lead 13 times with 10 caution periods taking up 60 laps.