Eleventh-place finish provides learning experience for driver
SPARTA, Ky. — John Hunter Nemechek had every right to enter Thursday’s UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway with wide eyes and sweaty palms.
Not only was he making his first start at a 1.5-mile track — his 18th birthday on June 11 allowing him to run on any track length — he was also hopping into the No. 8 NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet with no practice time due to inclement weather. Tack on the potential hazard of seeping rainwater on the track (fondly known as weepers) and the possibility of a bumpy ride due to the rough surface of Kentucky, and it’s enough to make the most experienced driver’s heart rate quicken.
And while he appeared weary post-race, leaning against his No. 8 truck while sitting on the asphalt surface, Nemechek had a simple answer regarding if he had felt nervous with no practice time before the drop of the green: “Not at all.”
The young driver’s performance seemed to reflect his attitude. After rolling off the grid 13th, Nemechek quickly dipped into the top bracket, running with drivers like Ryan Blaney for the top spot and even leading a lap around the asphalt oval. He finished the 225-mile event 11th.
“It felt good,” Nemechek said. “It showed what we can do as a team and how fast our truck really is.”
A fast truck in tow, the No. 8 team also received assistance on pit road from a group of men who know how to win at the highest level: the No. 48 crew of Jimmie Johnson. The crew pitted Nemechek’s No. 8 in Thursday’s Truck race and will pit Johnson’s Sprint Cup entry on Saturday as part of their regular duties.
With a strong showing in his first test on a 1.5-mile track — NASCAR’s bread-and-butter — Nemechek showed the industry he could contend in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Nonetheless, the No. 8 wheelman looks ahead to the remainder of the season, citing areas of improvement in the upcoming races for his team.
“It was fun, we had a really good truck. Just took four tires there at the end and we should have taken two or none,” Nemechek said, referring to the late-race four-tire call that caused him to drop several positions on pit road. “We hauled the mail on no tires there in the middle of the race, so definitely some learning to do, but I feel like I learned a lot tonight, feel like I adapted pretty quick and can’t thank my guys enough for a great truck.”