JOLIET, Illinois – Despite finishing second in last night’s American Ethanol e15 225 at Chicagoland Speedway, it’s been a good weekend for Daniel Hemric.
The day after punching a ticket into the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase, Hemric was introduced as a new driver at Richard Childress Racing for the full 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.
While many of the details are yet to be finalized, Hemric will contend for Rookie of the Year and is expected to have multiple teammates for the new season.
Hemric, the 25-year-old racer from Kannapolis, North Carolina is enjoying a breakout season in the Camping World Truck Series in Brad Keselowski Racing’s No. 19 Ford. After 16 races, Hemric has eight top-fives and 13 top-10 and ended the regular season tied with series leader William Byron with the most points accumulated at 405 points.
After spending his rookie season at NTS Motorsports. Hemric already has seven podium finishes this season and has doubled his top-five finishes (eight) from last year and has a magnificent 7.9 average finish entering the Chase. He has completed all but two of the 2,393 laps turned this season.
Before leaping to the NASCAR ranks, Hemric earned multiple championships across various Legend Car and Late Model series. He was crowned the track champion at Concord Speedway, recorded back-to-back Legend Car Pro championships (2008 and 2009), two Summer Shootout Series championships (2009 and 2012), Champion Racing Association JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour championship (2012) and the Southern Super Series championship (2013). Hemric was also the inaugural winner of the Legends Million race in 2010.
With a ride secured, Hemric says his Chase duties at BKR are his primary focus for the next seven races.
“It’s a huge relief,” said Hemric. “Every driver knows that feeling of the unknown about going to the next year. You like to think that it doesn’t bother you or that it’s not in the back of your mind but I can promise you anybody that’s had to worry about it knows how much it can wear on you and your body and your family. I’m excited to have it all laid out here on the table.
“Everybody knows what my objective is here to finish out 2016 and that’s to try to put a driver’s and owner’s championship in Brad Keselowski Racing’s shop. Now that this deal is out and I’ll be full-time in the XFINITY Series with RCR I’m just happy to know that there’s a home for me.”
While many thought Hemric would one of the leading contenders for the opening full-time Team Penske ride next season, there is a prior connection for Hemric to RCR that makes his move to Chevrolet and the Welcome, North Carolina-based team make sense.
“There wasn’t one thing in particular but growing up in the Kannapolis, North Carolina area and seeing everything that Richard’s done for the community and what he’s done in our sport and just to know the kind of family-oriented group that RCR as an organization is, that’s something that you dream to be a part of,” added Hemric.
“To now be able to officially say that I am a part of it – my ties go really far back with Richard and Austin and Ty growing up racing together, we were around each other a lot when we were a lot younger so it just felt right. I know Richard’s got my back and we will go to work assembling our group of guys as soon as we can.”
Like Hemric, team owner Richard Childress says he’s been keeping an eye on Hemric as he has progressed through the ranks and feels he can bring a lot to the table at RCR and contend for a championship in his first full-season.
“I’ve been watching Daniel for quite a few years now racing,” said Childress. ”He’s won championships in Late Models, Bandoleros, a little bit of everything. He set his career on the right path and I think he’s someone, a young man that can come out and do a good job for us in the future.
He added, “I think he is a great spokesperson for the sponsor(s). He’s very talented as a driver and I think he’ll be good to work with all our other drivers as well.”
With the move to the XFINITY Series, Hemric has just one more level before he reaches the pinnacle of NASCAR and he believes RCR can take him to Sprint Cup.
“I think so without a doubt,” Hemric added. “I know they have the platform to do it and like I said all the steps are taken into developing the other program, there’s no reason why I don’t feel like I can put my name in that hat here in the next couple years.
“Obviously just having Richard (Childress) and these guys support me and have faith in me, that’s a huge first step right? So, we’re going to take with stride, try to make the most of every opportunity and see what the future holds for us together.”
Richard Childress Racing has four XFINITY Series titles with 78 wins in 19 season of competition.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
