{"id":47076,"date":"2024-06-29T19:37:55","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T00:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=47076"},"modified":"2024-07-01T19:45:58","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T00:45:58","slug":"john-hunter-nemechek-takes-the-checkered-flag-at-nashville-superspeedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/29\/john-hunter-nemechek-takes-the-checkered-flag-at-nashville-superspeedway\/","title":{"rendered":"John Hunter Nemechek takes the checkered flag at Nashville Superspeedway"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, celebrates with his daughter, Aspen Palmer Nemechek and crew in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

LEBANON, Tenn. \u2013 John Hunter Nemechek survived a steamy hot afternoon and held off a highly-motivated field to win the Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"\"

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s the second Xfinity Series win of the season for Nemechek in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota \u2013 and 11th<\/sup> of his career in the series. The 27-year-old North Carolinian won Stage 2 and led a race best 76 of the 188 laps, including the final 46 after taking the lead on a re-start from Cole Custer, who navigated a corner too high allowing Nemechek to get by.<\/p>\n

\u201cFeels good to be back in the 20-machine, we\u2019ve been close to winning a lot this year in this thing,\u2019\u2019 said Nemechek, who will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Nashville on Sunday when he competes in his fulltime ride, the No. 42 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to capitalize on it is huge. \u2026 it\u2019s great to get it done here in Nashville.<\/p>\n

\"\"

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2 with Nemechek\u2019s teammate Chandler Smith rallying to a runner-up finish – 1.234-seconds behind Nemechek \u2013 on a day that left many in the field standing outside their cars on pit road after the checkered flag taking water and resting after in-car in-race temperatures neared 130 degrees. Several of the drivers either didn\u2019t wear a \u201ccool suit\u201d or had malfunctions with the one they did use.<\/p>\n

Much of the hard work came from the rear of the starting grid where championship contenders such as Jesse Love, Austin Hill and Sheldon Creed rallied to race up front after starting from the rear for technical issues.<\/p>\n

\"\"

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Creed\u2019s No. 18 JGR Toyota ran among the top 10 after starting at the back of the 38-car field, only to have engine issues in the closing laps.<\/p>\n

The Richard Childress Racing teammates Love and Hill certainly had impressive hard-earned finishes in their Chevrolets despite the weather challenges and positions on the starting grid – rallying to third and fourth place finishes, respectively.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series regular and former Xfinity Series title contender Noah Gragson rounded out the top five in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford \u2013 his second start in the car this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea,\u2019\u2019 a smiling Love said of how he passed 69 cars on the day and finished top five when his cool suit was not working properly.<\/p>\n

\"\"

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota, and Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 Barger Precast Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust proud to be part of a team that doesn\u2019t give up,\u2019\u2019 he continued. \u201cThat was probably the hottest I\u2019ve ever been. Just proud of my guys.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Another driver suffering from the heat when his cool suit didn\u2019t work was Stewart-Haas Racing\u2019s Riley Herbst, who still managed a sixth-place finish despite the circumstances. The 2023 Nashville race winner, A.J. Allmendinger finished seventh, followed by Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer and Sam Mayer.<\/p>\n

Custer holds on to the Xfinity Series championship lead by 15 points over Chandler Smith but was \u2013 as expected \u2013 frustrated not to come away with his first victory of the season after leading an impressive 64 laps himself. He fell all the way back to fifth losing the lead to Nemechek on that race-deciding restart and ultimately had his work cut out to stay among the top 10.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 Hellmann’s\/On Track to Read Chevrolet, and Chandler Smith, driver of the #81 Barger Precast Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 29, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI think I over-drove on that restart a little bit into Turn 1,\u2019\u2019 said the Stewart-Haas Racing driver Custer. \u201cThere\u2019s a couple things I could have done better. <\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s got dirty air and man, it was hard to make speed. I felt like we were solid when we were in the top-three cars but once we got back there it was tough to get the car to handle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say enough about our guys. We\u2019re bringing cars that compete for wins every week, it\u2019s just heartbreaking every week not to win. We\u2019re bringing good cars and leading laps, we\u2019ll get it eventually. We\u2019ll keep digging.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Xfinity Series joins the NASCAR Cup Series for a summer-time double-header on the streets of Chicago in next Saturday\u2019s The Loop 110 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Custer won last year\u2019s inaugural race from pole position.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner – John Hunter Nemechek (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Tennessee Lottery 250<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nashville Superspeedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nashville, Tennessee<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 29, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                   1. (15)  John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 188.<\/p>\n

                   2. (8)  Chandler Smith, Toyota, 188.<\/p>\n

                   3. (38)  Jesse Love #, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   4. (5)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   5. (7)  Noah Gragson(i), Ford, 188.<\/p>\n

                   6. (9)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 188.<\/p>\n

                   7. (4)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   8. (6)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   9. (2)  Cole Custer, Ford, 188.<\/p>\n

                   10. (24)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   11. (3)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 188.<\/p>\n

                   12. (30)  Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   13. (13)  Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   14. (11)  Tyler Reddick(i), Toyota, 188.<\/p>\n

                   15. (28)  Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   16. (10)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   17. (21)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   18. (17)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   19. (19)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 188.<\/p>\n

                   20. (1)  Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 188.<\/span><\/p>\n

                   21. (18)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 188.<\/span><\/p>\n

                   22. (16)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 188.<\/span><\/p>\n

                   23. (23)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 188.<\/span><\/p>\n

                   <\/span>24. (26)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 187.<\/p>\n

                   25. (25)  Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 187.<\/p>\n

                   26. (27)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 187.<\/p>\n

                   27. (20)  Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 187.<\/p>\n

                   28. (31)  Hailie Deegan #, Ford, 187.<\/p>\n

                   29. (22)  Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 187.<\/p>\n

                   30. (12)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 187.<\/p>\n

                   31. (29)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 186.<\/p>\n

                   32. (37)  Logan Bearden, Chevrolet, 185.<\/p>\n

                   33. (14)  Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 185.<\/p>\n

                   34. (35)  Chad Finchum, Ford, 184.<\/p>\n

                   35. (34)  Blaine Perkins, Ford, 184.<\/p>\n

                   36. (36)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 183.<\/p>\n

                   37. (32)  Dawson Cram(i), Chevrolet, 183.<\/p>\n

                   38. (33)  Patrick Emerling, Chevrolet, 183.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  127.571 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 57 Mins, 36 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.366 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  3 for 17 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  4 among 3 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   T. Gibbs(i) 1-48;C. Custer 49-70;J. Nemechek(i) 71-100;C. Custer 101-142;J. Nemechek(i) 143-188.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  John Hunter Nemechek(i) 2 times for 76 laps; Cole Custer 2 times for 64 laps; Ty Gibbs(i) 1 time for 48 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 19,16,9,00,7,30,98,20,81,39<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,16,00,19,81,30,2,9,7,98<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service LEBANON, Tenn. \u2013 John Hunter Nemechek survived a steamy hot afternoon and held off a highly-motivated field to win the Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway Saturday afternoon. It\u2019s the second Xfinity Series win of the season for Nemechek in the No. 20 Joe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":47073,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[447,16,181,871],"class_list":["post-47076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-john-hunter-nemechek","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-nashville-speedway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/GettyImages-2159865334-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-cfi","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47076"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47082,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47076\/revisions\/47082"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}