John Hunter Nemechek wins again in SpeedyCash 220

Kyle Busch Motorsports is now five-for-five on 1.5-mile tracks in 2021, and John Hunter Nemechek has contributed to four of those victories. The Camping World Truck Series points leader won Saturday’s SpeedyCash.com 220 at Texas Motor Speedway from the pole.

After Ben Rhodes, who started second, led the opening lap, Nemechek was on point for the remainder of the first stage. On lap eight, Sheldon Creed got loose in the PJ1 traction compound in turn two and spun up into the wall; another spin on lap 22 ended his day. Ray Ciccarelli‘s spin on lap 34 ended the stage under caution. Nemechek, Austin Hill, Rhodes, Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, Brennan Poole, Austin Wayne Self, Derek Kraus, Todd Gilliland, and Josh Berry closed out the top ten.

Gilliland took the lead to begin the second stage before losing it to Cup Series driver Chase Elliott. Elliott, who won in his most recent Truck start at Charlotte in 2020, would lead until Friesen was clipped by Carson Hocevar on the backstretch and spun to bring out a caution. Another yellow came on lap 62 for Jennifer Jo Cobb stopping on track. Like in Stage #1, the second segment ended under yellow after Drew Dollar spun and slammed into the turn two wall. Zane Smith, Tanner Gray, Kraus, Poole, Ross Chastain, Berry, Elliott, Chandler Smith, Nemechek, and Johnny Sauter comprised the top ten; Elliott and Chastain did not receive stage points as Cup drivers, while Berry did not since he declared for the Xfinity Series standings.

Elliott became the leader for Stage #3. On lap 109, Nemechek took the lead. Save for a brief five-lap stretch by Zane Smith, Nemechek would lead the rest of the way as the stage ran green en route to his fourth win of the year.

Nemechek, who joined Joe Gibbs Racing for a three-race Xfinity schedule yesterday, has dominated the 1.5-mile tracks with wins on all but one; the exception at Kansas saw him finish second to his boss Kyle Busch.

“I feel like we’ve been making a statement all year,” said Nemechek. “I feel like we’re one of the favourites every time that we show up to the race track. I can’t say enough about Eric Phillips (crew chief) and all these guys. Everyone, the pit crew, everyone at KBM, the fab shop, machine shop, chassis shop. Everyone does so good with building our trucks and I’m just lucky enough to be behind the wheel.”

Elliott finished second. Chastain was initially third but failed post-race inspection and was disqualified.

Race results