Daniel Hemric, No. 19 team still ‘find a way’ as Truck playoff push begins

Daniel Hemric enters the opening round of the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs for just the second time in his Truck Series career. To find the first time, you would have to go back to 2016, the inaugural year of the playoff era in the Truck Series. RELATED: Darlington weekend schedule | Truck Series standings The 2025 season marked Hemric’s return to full-time Truck competition, taking over the No. 19 Chevrolet from Christian Eckes as Eckes moved up to the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. Back in March, the 34-year-old driver spoke with NASCAR.com and detailed just how difficult that transition would be. Fast forward nearly six months, and the new driver of the No. 19 is a Craftsman Truck Series winner who earned his postseason spot with a victory at Martinsville Speedway. Still, Hemric believes there's still a lot of work ahead. “You know, I'd like to sit here and tell you all that is ironed out," Hemric said during Truck Series Playoffs media day. “We know exactly what that is, and to be truthful, we don't. I mean, there was a lot that changed for McAnally-Hilgemann racing over the offseason prior to me getting here. And, yeah, I think we have been searching. We've been searching to truly nail down what that identity is. But I'll tell you just from a bullet point perspective, we find a way. When all else fails, we find a way. And that's really kind of the current thing I lean on here as we begin this playoff run. "We know we have some strengths that we really, truly got to stay within throughout the rounds and the races and identity will kind of naturally take on its own characters, but yeah, for us, just trying to truly stay within what we know we are and what we are to this point, and try to continue to grow and develop any better." MORE: Truck drivers prepare for new tracks in quest for championship Hemric is one of only two competitors in the 10-driver Truck playoff field this season with a national series championship (2021, Xfinity Series). The other? Defending Truck Series champion Ty Majeski. "I don't look at [being a former champion] as an advantage," Hemric said. "Obviously, going through the playoffs multiple times now, is there something to that? I mean, yeah, obviously, you've kind of done it, but also feel the identity in which every year is its own is something that can't be lost. And I don't go into it thinking because I had past success in past seasons, that means I might have future success going throughout this playoff. "There is something different about all playoff sports. I don't care what sport it is, it's fun and a different atmosphere and a different feeling that I love and have always loved. It's cool to be a part of another one." Even with all of the "new" the No. 19 camp still faces, Hemric remains confident as the team forges ahead in the pursuit of the organization's first championship. It's certainly a long way to go, but the Kannapolis, North Carolina native is already looking forward to Martinsville Speedway in the Round of 8, hopeful for a shot at the Championship 4. "We just go to that place with a lot of confidence in general," Hemric said. "But as we've seen all year, the entire Truck Series, garage, really, all three series, is continuing to evolve. And guys that were good the last time doesn't mean you're gonna be good this time. But we go to there, really all of the short tracks, with an extra level of confidence. I feel like it's been a strength of ours and just look forward to that opportunity. Hopefully, it is within that Round of 8 and we can go punch our ticket and race for a championship in Phoenix."