FANTASY NASCAR Racin

A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Hemric began his career at the age of five, competing in go-kart racing at the 1/5-mile Concord Speedway, winning 11 races and a track championship at the North Carolina facility before moving up to Bandolero car five years later. At 16, Hemric moved up to Legends cars, and in 2008, he won the track's Pro championship, as well as the first of two back-to-back Legends Pro national championships. In 2009, with nearly 60 wins in just under 80 starts, he maxed out his National Points early on the way to winning his second national Legends Pro championship, in addition to earning the Summer Shootout Series championship on the strength of six races in 10 starts. In 2010, Hemric won the Legends Million at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the largest paycheck in Legends car history, $250,000. In October 2013, Hemric made his debut in NASCAR competition at Martinsville Speedway, driving the #6 Chevrolet for Sharp Gallaher Racing

10's with a best finish of second at Las Vega and Chicago. He finished sixth in the points. 2017 saw Daniel move to the Xfinity Series to drive full time for Richard Childress. Making the move from Trucks to Xfinity cars is usually a difficult one; but after getting a little experience he began to show his talent. He posted his first Top 5 finish at Bristol. He posted a third at Richmond the next race. The final 1/3 of the season Hemric showed how much he had learned in the early part of the season. from race #21 to the end of the season he posted five Top 5 finishes. He was the only driver from the RCR stable to make it to have a shot at the Championship. For the season he had a best finish of second (Mid-Ohio); seven Top 5 and 16 Top 10 finishes. For 2018 Hemric once again ran for RCR with South Pointe Hotel and Casino as a sponsor. Hemric had a

nice season driving for Childress in 2018. He failed to win a race; but did finish twice on four occasions. He made the play offs via points and finished the season with a flurry. He posted Top 10 finishes in the final eight races. In the Championship event at Homestead he ran towards the front most of the day; but in the end he wasn't stout enough to beat Tyler Reddick or Cole Custer to win the Championship finishing third in the points. Richard Childress driver Ryan Newman left his RCR Cup ride to go drive the #6 machine for Jack Roush. That left a seat open and Childress moved Hemric up from his Xfinity team car into his Cup team for 2019. Hemric and Ryan Preece had a spirited battle Rookie of the Year honors. Hemric drove the

#8 instead of the #31 Newman had vacated. The first ten races of the season; the rookie finished outside the top twenty most races as he was getting accustomed to the faster heavier Cup cars. By mid-season most of his finishes were now in the 'teens', with a seventh at Pocono. He ran clean races and kept learning about the Cup cars and was able to be closer to the front more and more. On August 17, 2019, Hemric said he was "iffy" about his status for 2020, despite having signed a two-year contract with RCR. A month later on September 17, the team announced Hemric would be released after the 2019 season. At the October Kansas race, Hemric scored his first career Cup Pole Award. He posted a finish of 12th at Homestead as he edged out Preece for the Rookie Honors. He finished the year 25th in points. Hemric lost his Cup ride in 2020

and went to the Xfinity Series, joining JR Motorsports' #8 car for a 21-race schedule and sharing the car with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeb Burton. Hemric posted good results driving for JRM. He had mechanical issues, or got caught up in other drivers incidents a couple time which left him with a poor finish. But of the 21 races he ran he, 14 of those he completed the whole race. 12 of those he finished in the Top 10. His best runs came at Charlotte and Kansas where he finished second. For the year he had seven Top 5s. For 2021 Hemric was tabbed to drive the Joe Gibbs Racing #18 in the Xfinity series. Riley Herbst who drove the #18 has left to drive the #98 for Stewart-Haas Racing and replace Chase Briscoe who moved up to the Cup series for SHR. This proved be a great ride

for Hemric where he could showcase his talent. Hemric had a strong season, but all through that first win still eluded him. He posted 15 Top 5 finishes; three of which saw him finish second. This made ten second place finishes in his career; and tied him with Dale Jarrett for the most second place finishes before a win. He also had 21 Top 10 finishes. He made the Chase via points and ran great in the playoffs. He advanced to the final race to run for the Championship. For the second year in a row Austin Cindric looked to have the best car and was the favorite to win. Cindric lead 113 of the 204 laps. An accident just five laps from the end set up a late race showdown and a two lap over time finish. Cindric jumped out to the lead with Hemric right behind. Cindric led at the white flag; and as the cars entered turn three for the final time Cindric was doing his best to hold the bottom line and keep Hemric behind him. Hemric nudged Cindric just enough to create an opening below Cindric and forced his car into the

spot. The two banged doors in turn four and coming to the finish line. Hemric was able to fend off Cindric as the checkered hankie waved; giving Hemric his first career win and also the Xfinity Championship. With Justin Haley moving to the Cup Series in 2022; Hemric moved to Kaulig Racing to drive the #11 car in the Xfinity series and more wins were expected from Hemric. Afterall, he had finally broken through and gotten that first win; and along with it a Championship; but results for 2022 were disappointing. In his Xfinity series starts, the team just didn't seem to have the speed to keep pace with JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. He placed in many races between 6th and 12th, coming home behind the JRM and JGR cars. He finished third in the third race of the season at Las Vegas. No one knew at the time it would be his best finish of the season. He finished almost every race, he didn't have an issue, on the lead lap; just behind better cars. Four of

the final five races he finished inside the top eight. For the year he had three top five and 14 top ten finishes. He also had 20 finishes inside the top 15. Not a bad season; but far from what was envisioned at the start of the year. Hemric also did some Cup racing as he shared a seat with Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger in the cockpit of the #16 car owned by Kaulig. He made nine starts with his best finishes being a 12th at Daytona and ninth at Fontana. Hemric filled in for Ty Gibbs in the #23 car for 23XI Racing in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Gibbs had to miss the race due to the sudden, unexpected, death of his father Coy Gibbs. Hemric was still at the track after the previous day's Xfinity Series race and was able to be fitted into Gibbs' car seat. This marked Hemric's first race with Toyota in over a year. Hemric will be back behind the wheel for Kaulig in 2023,
looking for better results in the Xfinity series. 2023 proved

to be better than 2022 was. He was involved in an early crash at Daytona and finished 36. A 12th place finish at Fontana seemed to get him back on the right path, as he followed that up with a tenth at Las Vegas and Phoenix. He almost won at Atlanta finishing second to Austin Hill by about a car length. The team struggled a bit in June with only one finish inside the Top 16. When the series returned to Atlanta; he again finished second; this time he was behind John Hunter Nemechek. He made the Chase for the championship; and when that kicked off at Bristol, he made a good run finishing second behind Justin Allgaier.

Fantasy NASCAR Racing

DANIEL HEMRIC - 01/27/1991