John Hunter Nemechek wins at Texas, Hemric comes close again

The NASCAR Xfinity Series began the Round of Eight in the playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 335. The race began with Austin Cindric and AJ Allmendinger, the two championship favorites, on the front row as the green flag waved.

Austin Cindric led for a lot of stage one and nearing the end of the stage, John Hunter Nemechek was chasing down Cindric until the caution came out when the No. 17 Chevrolet of J.J. Yeley came to a stop on the apron. This would set up a one-lap dash to the finish for Stage One, as Austin Cindric would hold off Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger to collect the stage win.

Stage One Results:

1. Austin Cindric
2. Noah Gragson
3. AJ Allmendinger
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Michael Annett
6. Justin Haley
7. Harrison Burton
8. Jeremy Clements
9. Brett Moffitt
10. Brandon Brown

Daniel Hemric and John Hunter Nemechek then led the field to the green flag to begin stage two as Hemric, going in with nine second-place finishes, is chasing his first win. On lap 10 of stage two, there was debris on the track to bring out the caution. The race would then restart with 29 to go in Stage Two. Just a couple of laps later, the caution came out after the No. 39 of Ryan Sieg went for a spin. Nemechek would then take the lead with 18 laps to go in stage two. He and Hemric kept changing blows at the lead, as for Nemechek, he wanted to win and Hemric wanted to win and punch a ticket to the Championship Four in Phoenix. John Hunter Nemechek would go on to win Stage Two.

Stage Two Results:

1. John Hunter Nemechek
2. Daniel Hemric
3. Sam Mayer
4. Jeb Burton
5. Justin Haley
6. Riley Herbst
7. Michael Annett
8. Justin Allgaier
9. Noah Gragson
10. AJ Allmendinger

The final stage began on lap 98 with Nemechek clearing Daniel Hemric for the lead. A big wreck happens two laps later that involved Tanner Berryhill, Jade Buford, and Dylan Lupton. Another caution then came out with 59 laps to go after CJ McLaughlin went spinning in the tri-oval. Hemric led at the restart with 51 laps to go as John Hunter Nemechek was hit with a pit road penalty. After the restart, JHN was passing one car after another as he flew through the field. Things were looking good for Hemric until with 29 laps to go, Talladega winner Brandon Brown went spinning on the backstretch. This was good for Nemechek and not so good for Hemric. Harrison Burton was the only one to stay out as the race restarted with 21 laps to go. Burton led for a lap until Nemechek was able to get around the 20. With 13 laps to go, Justin Allgaier nearly lost control of his car but was able to save it, avoiding a possible wreck between him, Gragson, and Allmendinger. In the end, Hemric did everything he could, but it was all John Hunter Nemechek as he would score his second career Xfinity win at Texas.

2021 Andy’s 335 Top 10:

1. John Hunter Nemechek
2. Daniel Hemric
3. Noah Gragson
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Austin Cindric
6. AJ Allmendinger
7. Justin Haley
8. Harrison Burton
9. Michael Annett
10. Brandon Jones