Nemechek earns long-awaited second win
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 5, 2001
10:57 AM EST (1557 GMT)
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- It took two years, 70 races and a new team, but Joe Nemechek showed he can still win by capturing the victory in the Pop Secret 400 at North Carolina Speedway on Sunday.
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Joe Nemechek
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It was Nemechek’s second career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory, first with Andy Petree Racing and his first since his last trip to Victory Lane at New Hampshire in 1999. His victory also gave Petree his second win of the year and as an owner.
Starting 13th in the No. 33 Chevrolet, Nemechek parked himself in the top 10 for all but two of the 393 laps around the 1.017-mile oval. Utilizing efficient pit stops, a great setup and tire management, he beat Bud Pole Award-winner Kenny Wallace, who finished second, for the win.
Nemechek led a race-high 196 laps totally dominating the day finishing 6.285 seconds ahead of Wallace. He took the lead for good on lap 334.
“Man, what a day! What a day!” Nemechek said with exuberance in Victory Lane. “We knew in the first practice on Friday that we were really good. The motor was awesome today.”
In late May, Nemechek wasn’t sure if he would ever be behind the wheel of a race car again. After sustaining a broken elbow, shoulder, lung bruise and a neck injury while practicing his Busch Series car at Dover, he was out of his Winston Cup ride for five races.
He returned to action at the July race in Daytona. Sunday's win at Rockingham was his third top-10 since his injury.
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Nemechek celebrates in Victory Lane.
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“This is great and it feels good,” Nemechek said. “You talk about that wreck and I almost broke my neck in that. Then, I didn’t know how long it would take to get back in a race car. Now, to come back and win in the same season -- especially here at The Rock - is great.
“Cars were slipping and sliding out there and my tires were great every time. I could push them every lap. When we needed to go, we could.”
Speaking of going, Nemechek and Petree have agreed to part ways because there is no sponsor, as of yet, for the No. 33 Chevrolet next year. It is widely believed that Nemechek is slated for the Haas Carter Motorsports-owned No. 26 Ford that Jimmy Spencer is departing.
It’s sort of a case of déjà vu for Nemechek. He was leaving his prior team in 1999 when he captured his first win -- a victory at New Hampshire.
“This is kind of the same scenario when we were leaving Felix Sabates,” Nemechek said of his 1999 win. “Today, I just had an awesome car.”
Wallace also was a top-10 runner for most of the race. He led the race for 101 laps, but just couldn’t close the gap as the laps dwindled down. This was his second top-10 run since he took over for the injured Steve Park in the No. 1 Chevrolet.
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Kenny Wallace finished second.
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Wallace's second-place finish capped off quite a successful weekend. He not only captured the pole for the Winston Cup race on Friday, but he also took home the victor’s trophy for Saturday’s Busch Series race.
“If second is as bad as I’ve done all weekend, that’s a pretty incredible week,” Wallace said. “I’d like to congratulate Joe Nemechek and Andy Petree. Man, that guy came out of nowhere. We had no idea he would be the guy to beat.
“This car ran extremely strong all day long. I’d like to thank Teresa Earnhardt (owner) and all the guys who put their work into this car. I’m thrilled to death.
“We made one change and I didn’t like it so we went back to the other deal. We had great pit stops all day and these guys did great and we were real consistent."
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Johnny Benson
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"Hey, 'Herm the Worm Weaver,' the 'Herminator' they call me-I'm back by popular demand," Wallace said with a laugh referring to his nickname.
Johnny Benson had to take a provisional for the No. 10 Pontiac and rallied back to a third-place finish. It’s his third top-10 through the last four races.
“We had a great race car and we had to come from a long ways back,” Benson said. “I’m kind of tired at the moment but the guys had some great pit stops.
“Pontiac is still hurting on the front downforce. The longer I went, it ran pretty good, but I couldn’t make turns. We had to free the car up so much we had to overcome the aerodynamics.”
Benson was also hurting having competed with a bad cold. He said he was OK at the end, just a little worn out.
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Nemechek takes the No. 33 for a celebratory spin.
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Nemechek wore out his car after the race with a victory burnout.
“I’ve seen all these other cats do all those burnouts,” Nemechek said. “I decided if I ever won I would do one that would catch the tires on fire. I didn’t get to do that, but I did blow them out.”
Rounding out the top 10 was Dale Jarrett, Jerry Nadeau, Ward Burton, Tony Stewart, Ricky Rudd, Bobby Labonte and Matt Kenseth.
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