By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
After winning the first stage at Talladega Superspeedway, Daniel Hemric’s day went downhill after he missed timed a block while leading.
Throughout the weekend, Hemric showed speed in his No. 21 Chevrolet. Hemric was able to score the pole for the race.
Throughout the first stage, Hemric was able to lead the pack for his second stage victory of 2018. In the second stage, the veteran Xfinity driver was once again showcasing his speed, but missed calculated a block of the high lane.
“I was able to be aggressive there early to win the first stage and keep everyone behind us. I was a little late blocking the one run the 16 had in stage two that kinda cost us some track position that put us back,” Hemric stated.
“I was just late getting up to block the top lane. If you don’t get all the way in front of them and they get on your quarter panel, it stops you. Nothing anybody else could have done. I just messed up on my end.”
Despite dropping back, Hemric knew that his car had the speed to make move back toward the front of the field. Hemric avoided an incident coming to pit road when John Hunter Nemechek spun after hitting weepers.
While trying to work his way back through the field in the closing the final laps of the race, Hemric had a left-front tire going down and was able to pull out of his draft before the tire officially blew.
“I felt it come apart right in the middle of the tri-oval. Luckily, I was able to get out of the lane everybody was drafting in. As soon as I did that, it blew. Fortunate we didn’t kill the racecar. Nothing you can do about it,” Hemric finished.
Hemric finished in the 23rd position and sits sixth in the points standings.