DARLINGTON, S.C.: John Hunter Nemechek’s opportunity to score his third NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the season came up short on the final lap in the Shriners Children’s 200 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was battling NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson on the white flag lap with Nemechek leading the way through the backstretch into Turn 3.
Larson took his shot entering Turn 3 and making the pass on Nemechek, but as the cars exited Turn 4, Nemechek in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra had momentum that propelled him to make a move on the frontstretch coming to the checkered flag, but Larson bounced off the wall into Nemechek which shot Nemechek’s race car into the frontstretch inside retaining wall before careening across the track into the outside wall.
Nemechek cross the start-finish line backwards in fifth.
After netting his sixth top-five finish of the year, the Mooresville, N.C. – native emerged from the infield care center dejected.
“I feel like there’s a couple of things I probably could have done different there to possibly have won the race,” Nemechek said.
“Just made a mistake on my end. We kinda hooked together entering (Turn) 3. We were both going for the same real estate and the same thing off (Turn) 4. Just made contact right front to left rear and spun at that point.”
While disappointed that he was unable to notch another win Saturday afternoon, the 26-year-old realized that he and Larson put on a show for the race fans.
“Thank you to Pye Barker Fire & Safety for coming on board,” added Nemechek. “We put on a heck of show with Kyle (Larson) who is one of the best in this sport I feel like in Stage 2 and Stage 3.
“I’m disappointed in myself, but still to come away with a top-five is a good day, either though we had a dominate race car and feel like we probably should have finished first or second.”
Despite not winning, Nemechek will head into the off-week knowing his team continues to show speed in their race cars – but approaching a vital summer stretch, he’ll need to turn that speed into race trophies.
“Hats off to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, all the team guys on this No. 20 team they continue to work hard,” sounded Nemechek. “It shows every week. We have fast race cars and dominate race cars we just gotta start finishing and clicking off some wins.
“It’s just part of it. We’ll move on. We’ll go back and watch some film and go to Charlotte and hopefully wax.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
