By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
It took 250 laps, but tempers did blow over Friday night at Richmond Raceway as John Hunter Nemechek and Joe Graf Jr. traded paint after the checkered flag.
At the conclusion of the Go Bowling 250, Graf’s No. 21 moved Nemechek’s No. 23 out of the way while racing for the 14th spot. In return, Nemechek chased after Graf and spun him entering Turn 1.
“I flat spun him out,” Nemechek said of the post-checkered flag incident. “It’s just uncalled for to run into somebody’s corner panel and about turn them on the last lap. Especially a playoff car right? Last year, I wasn’t in the playoffs and you run these races with respect. And he doesn’t have any.”
Running in his first Xfinity playoffs, Nemechek expected more respect from Graf, who ran only his third Xfinity race Friday in Richard Childress Racing’s No. 21.
“He never qualifies for a race so we don’t ever get to race around him,” Nemechek said of Graf, who has failed to qualify on two occasions in 2019. “He moved us out of the way running 12th there at the end. There is a reason he doesn’t get to race here very often.
“There’s a respect level. He has to earn some respect. He hasn’t qualified for many races this year. There is definitely something to say.”
Failing to turn a lap in qualifying, Nemechek’s GMS Racing Chevrolet started in the rear and struggled with pace throughout the night, finishing 15th.
“It was up-and-down,” he said. “I just felt like we were behind on an adjustment all night. I should have known what the track was going to do. Frustrating night.”