NASCAR
Seas Part for Daniel Hemric to Take First Truck Win, $50,000 Bonus
RIDGEWAY, Va. – One of the more intriguing moves of the NASCAR offseason has seemingly paid off. 2021 Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric is now also a winner in the Truck Series. What may have seemed like an easy third-straight Martinsville win for the No. 19 Chevrolet was anything but. Hemric was the ultimate benefactor after leaders took each other out multiple times. Bill McAnally Racing is back in victory lane and will contend for another championship in 2025. Hemric’s consistency automatically makes this team an ultimate title underdog threat who cannot be overlooked.
From the pole, Corey Heim was the class of the field early. The No. 11 Toyota was unchallenged up front for every lap across both stages, only yielding the lead to pit after halfway.
Heim restarted sixth in the non-preferred outside lane, but retook command after only 17 laps. Heim’s seemingly easy march to another dominant win would only be derailed inside of the final 35 laps. Contact from Kaden Honeycutt’s No. 45 cut a tire on Heim, sending the 11 spinning in turn one.
Honeycutt would run into similar issues out front, being cleaned out by an aggressive Ty Majeski. The reigning Truck champion tried a dive-bomb move into turn one that didn’t stick, sending both drivers around.
Third-place Tyler Ankrum then inherited the lead, trying to end his own losing drought of nearly five years. Ankrum’s promising time out front was also short-lived, however. Teammate Daniel Hemric gave Ankrum a nudge for the lead and ultimate win with five laps left.
The journeyman driver who stunned the racing world four years ago in Phoenix is now a winner again in the Truck Series. Hemric also pockets the first Triple Truck Challenge bonus cash of the season with this victory.
“Man I’ve been losing my voice all week,” Hemric said. “We didn’t really have one, but we found a way there at the end. Obviously we got a long season ahead, I wanted to race Tyler (Ankrum) as clean as I could. I’ve walked out of here twice thinking there’s a missing spot in my dining room for a clock. It’s cool to finally get one here.”
“This truck’s now three-for-three here, exact same chassis. Huge huge congrats and thanks to everyone at MHR, Bill McAnally thank you for this opportunity. I said I wanted to come back here, not to get anywhere but come back here to win and stay humble, just enjoy this journey. I’m so thankful for the path I’ve been on, and I see there’s an extra $50,000. Thanks to Craftsman, what a series, just super proud to be here. So sweet to have a clock sitting in the home here soon.”
Behind the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing duo, Jake Garcia had a podium result ahead of Chandler Smith and Ben Rhodes. Corey Heim rebounded to sixth, ahead of Andres Perez De Lara, Rajah Caruth, Stewart Friesen, and Lawless Alan. Hear from a few of these drivers below.
With past driver Christian Eckes, the 19 was a regular sight in victory lane and contending for titles. Now that Hemric has broken through for a maiden Truck triumph, can this team be a top-tier threat again? The 19 is the lone Truck locked in the Playoffs other than Corey Heim.
Truckers will be back in action in two weeks Bristol Motor Speedway. The Weather Guard Truck Race goes green Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Eckes took the No. 19 to this win too last year, Hemric will try and keep the trophy in house at BMR.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
