Hemric Excited About First SRL Winter Showdown Opportunity
Hemric Excited About First SRL Winter Showdown Opportunity
Bakersfield, CA – NASCAR Xfinity Star Daniel Hemric is the latest driver to enter the 2018 Winter Showdown at Kern County Raceway (CA), on February 1-3, 2018. The $30,000 to win event, which pays $3,000 to start, is drawing racing stars from all around the country, to Bakersfield, CA. Hemric fits the “star” description to a “T”, as the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) driver recently completed his rookie campaign, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He finished fourth in the final championship standings, after racing his way into the “Chase” at Phoenix International Raceway (AZ).
Hemric will now jump into a car owned by the Wilson Motorsports Team, to compete in the 4th Annual Winter Showdown. It is a talented group, which was able to secure two SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series victories in 2017, with Buddy Shepherd and Johnny VanDoorn behind the wheel. It was a deal that came together recently, between individuals who have had connections through racing over numerous years.
“In all honesty, this deal came together purely off of long-standing mutual friends and relationships, formed over the last ten plus years”, Hemric told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “I’ve known Butch and Johnny VanDoorn for quite a while. My Xfinity Series crew chief, Danny Stockman, has known Charlie Wilson, Nick (Sivesend) and the Wilson Motorsports group for a long time. This is due to him growing up, and racing on the West Coast earlier in his career. Since beginning conversations with the Wilson Motorsports Team, about trying to put a deal together, it has been very eye opening as to how small of a world it truly is. It has been a pleasure to work through the logistics with everyone involved”, Hemric concluded.
Hemric will be making his first start at Kern County Raceway’s (KCR) state of the art half mile paved tri-oval. The Winter Showdown, however, is an event that he has had circled on his calendar since its inception.
“I know Kern County Raceway, and the entire staff out there, are all top notch. Hemric stated. “I’ve tuned into Speed51.com, for the past two running’s of the Winter Showdown, and every year I’ve been sitting at home watching, and wishing I was in it. I am excited to know that I will finally get my chance to experience the race, and the facility, from the perspective I’ve wanted to for the past three years.”
Through the years, Hemric has enjoyed more than his fair share of success in the racing world. Daniel is a veteran of the Super Late Model wars, with touring series championships in the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour (2012), Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship Series (2013) and Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco (2013). He has won Super Late Model Events such as the All American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville (TN), the Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway (IN) and the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing at New Smyrna Speedway (FL). Adding to his diversity, he also possesses a “Tour-Type” Modified win, at the “World Series”, and a “Legends Million” win, at Charlotte Motor Speedway (NC).
Daniel is excited, and thankful, for the opportunity to get back to his short track racing roots, in an event like the Winter Showdown.
Hemric began, “Short track racing, in events like the Winter Showdown, are the only reason I’ve had the opportunity to move on in my career. So it’s humbling to know RC (Richard Childress), all of our Partners, and everyone involved on the NASCAR side of things, have given me the leeway and freedom, to come back to the style of racing that has made me who I am today. I am ready to get to Kern County Raceway, to say the least.”
Those successes on the short tracks resulted in the Mooresville, NC driver making the full-time move to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, racing for NTS Motorsports in 2015. He completed that season seventh in the championship standings. Hemric moved to the Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) stables in 2016, finishing sixth in the standings, while scoring 11 top five and 17 top ten finishes in the 23 events.
Hemric’s next destination was the NASCAR Xfinity Series, when he signed a deal with legendary car owner Richard Childress. Under Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Hemric made the 12 car “Playoff Chase”, advancing all the way to the final four at Homestead Miami Speedway (FL). Hemric led the championship four in the event, until alternator troubles relegated the 26 year old driver to a 34th place finish, and a fourth place result in the championship.
With a successful first season at RCR under his belt, competing against the best in NASCAR, Hemric is eager to head to Bakersfield, to compete against some of the best Super Late Models from the West Coast, as well as throughout the country. This is an opportunity for Daniel, to do something he has never done before.
“All through my career, I’ve been fortunate to battle with some of the best racers, from all over the country, in different forms of motorsports. I’ve had limited chances to run with a select few from the West Coast, but this will be my first time competing in a Super Late Model West of Missouri. The talent on the West Coast is very prevalent, especially in the top series of NASCAR. I’m looking forward to racing some of the best in February at Kern County”, Hemric surmised.
When Hemric arrives in Bakersfield, for the Showdown, the Wilson Motorsports Team will have a new Super Late Model ready for the Winston-Salem, NC driver. The car features a VanDoorn Racing Development Offset Chassis, a Hamner Racing Engines Chevy Power Plant under a Chevrolet SS body. Butch VanDoorn will bring many years of experience to the effort, and act as the Crew Chief for the weekend.
The Wilson Motorsports and VanDoorn Racing Development Team will strive to better their fourth place result from the 2017 Showdown, when Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver, Eric Jones was the chauffeur. It is a goal shared by both the team and the driver.
“The Wilson Motorsports Team and I share the same expectations going into the Winter Showdown….. go there, work together, and make sure that as the weekend goes on, we put ourselves in a position with a shot to win. It is no easy task by any means, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”
A large field of drivers is expected to make the task difficult for Hemric, and the Wilson Motorsports Team, on February 3rd. With Late Model Touring, Track and even “Cup” Champions waiting, Hemric and the team will certainly face a demanding task. It is overcoming that challenge that every racer and team look forward to, in the pursuit of their ultimate goal, finishing first.
Photos provided by Daniel Hemric.
