Nemechek's hardships alleviated by unexpected win

By Ryan Smithson, Turner Sports Interactive
November 6, 2001
9:28 AM EST (1428 GMT)

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Joe Nemechek put an entire season of frustration into 393 glorious laps at North Carolina Speedway.

Joe Nemechek

In a season filled with improbable wins, Nemechek may have scored the most unlikely of them all in the Pop Secret 400. The 38-year-old had never won at Rockingham -- not even in the Busch Series, where he has nine wins -- and his Winston Cup record here was less than stellar. Until Sunday.

Nemechek simply annihilated the field at a track where he has never scored a top-five finish in a Winston Cup car. In 16 races here, Nemechek’s previous best showing at The Rock was seventh, and he had never even qualified in the first three rows.

Nemechek wins  Pop Secret 400 Results  Winston Cup Standings  Notebook: Pop Secret 400  No. 17 wins challenge  Rudd gains 54 points  Harvick clinches NBS title  Video: Early caution  Video: Final laps  Video: Nemechek wins  Video: K. Wallace second

“I was in my own world here,” Nemechek said. “I was in my game today and I had my game face on.”

Nemechek’s car dominated the race -- he led 196 laps and won by over six seconds -- but his No. 33 Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet never topped the speed chart over the weekend. He qualified a solid 13th and was an average of 15th in the three practices.

“I am stunned we won this race,” team owner Andy Petree said. “I had no idea we would dominate this race I was shocked we did it and the way we did it, but I sure am happy.”

The only car to really challenge Nemechek was the No. 1 of Kenny Wallace, who led 101 laps.

“We had no idea he would be the guy to beat,” Wallace said. “That guy came out of nowhere.”

But Nemechek’s win is also improbable considering what he has gone through this year. In May, while testing at Dover, he slammed the wall in Turn 2, breaking his right elbow and shoulder. He was out for five weeks and didn’t really regain his form for another 10 weeks, when he finished seventh at Dover.

“I waited until I was healed, but the hardest thing was adapting to the HANS,” Nemechek said. “It confines you. I came back at Daytona and it was really hot. Having that thing was tough.

“I am not one for giving up. My neck still hurts once in a while. I don’t know if Andy ever thought I could drive again, I am not one for giving up.”

Both of Nemechek’s wins came just as he is wrapping up a stint with a car owner. Nemechek won’t be driving for Andy Petree Racing next year -- the team is still seeking sponsorship for 2002.

Nemechek’s other Winston Cup victory was also unusual. On Sept. 19, 1999, he stunned the racing world by winning at Loudon -- his first Winston Cup win in 180 starts. The win came after car owner Felix Sabates had already made the decision to replace Nemechek with Kenny Irwin.

Nemechek didn’t have a job at the time, but he later landed with Petree, and he responded by finishing a career-high 15th in the Winston Cup standings in 2000.