Featured Latest News NASCAR NASCAR Xfinity Series

John Hunter Nemechek Wins Alsco Uniforms 250 At Atlanta In NASCAR Overtime

by Hunter Thomas July 9, 2023 1 comment

HAMPTON, Ga. – John Hunter Nemechek took off in NASCAR Overtime at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday in the Alsco Uniforms 250 and never looked back as he captured his third win of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Saturday’s race looked as if it were going to end under regulation, but with only two laps to go, Austin Hill spun on the frontstretch and sent the field into NASCAR Overtime.

On the final restart, Nemechek, who restarted on the bottom got a push from Daniel Hemric, while Justin Haley on the outside lost drafting help as drivers ran out of fuel. Nemechek extended his lead, and on the final lap, Hemric had a huge run along the backstretch and into Turn 3, but he just wasn’t able to pull alongside to challenge for the lead, and Nemechek went on to win his third race of the season.

“I got a huge push from the 11 (Daniel Hemric), so thank you to Daniel,” Nemechek said. “We definitely didn’t have the best car tonight, but we had the most perseverance. This team never gives up. Even when we are down, we continue to fight from the back to get to the front to go and win races. I feel like we have given a few away this year, but to come home with a win without the fastest car here means a lot.”

Nemechek now has three consecutive top-10 finishes, with two of the performances being inside of the top-two. Saturday’s win served as a great momentum booster for the team, and now Nemechek is fired up to compete in the NASCAR Playoffs later this summer.

“It is super satisfying,” Nemechek said. “The never give up attitude is with this team – we’ve been through a lot this year. We’ve had to overcome a lot, but we are a really strong race team. We are consistent each week and we will get more wins and hopefully go race for the championship come Phoenix.”

A win for Hemric would have been monumental. While Hemric is ahead of the NASCAR Playoffs cutline, he currently sits eighth in the standings, but would only be 11^th of 12 in the Playoff standings. Saturday’s performance marked only Hemric’s second top-five finish (also finished second at Atlanta in the spring) of the season; however, it’s also his third consecutive top-10 finish.

Cole Custer and Haley rounded out the top-five. Completing the top-10 was Ty Gibbs, Kyle Sieg, Parker Kligerman, Josh Williams and Sammy Smith.

Riley Herbst won Stage 1, and Sheldon Creed won Stage 2.

There were 14 lead changes among nine drivers. Haley led a race high of 80 laps.

Throughout the race, there were also eight cautions for 50 laps. The most notable caution was an 11-car pileup on the backstretch on Lap 89. Herbst slowed, and the pack had nowhere to go. The accident caught up strong contenders such as Creed, Ryan Sieg and Brandon Jones.

Nemechek continues to lead the standings, 16 points ahead of Hill.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will now head to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Ambetter Health 200 on Saturday, July 15. Live coverage will broadcast on USA at 3 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com