April 17, 2021 | By Lee Spencer

Winning at Richmond is a family affair for John Hunter Nemechek

John Hunter Nemechek brought a good luck charm to Richmond Raceway—his new daughter Aspen.

On Saturday, Nemechek picked up his second victory behind the wheel of the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Tundra--17 days after the birth of his first child.

Just as the second-generation racer learned the gypsy life early, caravanning to weekly NASCAR events with his parents and Joe and Andrea Nemechek, J.H. also learned other valuable lessons—like how to win. With his truck victory, the Nemechek family has won in all three of NASCAR’s top tours at Richmond. Joe Nemechek won the spring Cup race in 2003 and Xfinity Series spring race in 1994.

“Taylor (wife) and Aspen are actually here in the motorhome, so hopefully we can get to celebrate with them,” Nemechek said. “It’s been an amazing time with Aspen so far. This puts a lot of different things in perspective, but I just can’t thank all of my guys, all of our partners, everyone enough for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. It’s two wins. #HereForWins. Let’s go get more.”

Nemechek passed his teammate Chandler Smith on Lap 234 and kept boss Kyle Busch at bay for his eighth Camping World Truck Series win. Tyler Ankrum, Smith, Johnny Sauter, Todd Gilliland, Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Sam Mayer and Austin Hill rounded out the top 10.

“Never give up attitude,” Nemechek said. “I just can’t thank Kyle (Busch, team owner), everyone at Toyota, all of our great partners. It’s pretty cool to be able to come out here and do what we were able to do. We had a really fast truck.

“I’m super proud of all of my guys and thankful for them. Thankful for our partners, Safeway, ACME and all of their partners with them. I know the president is here from Safeway and ACME, so that’s pretty cool to get them a win on their own turf. Thank you for believing in me.”

Enfinger took the lead from Ben Rhodes after three circuits and held on for the first stage win on Lap 70. Hailie Deegan collided with Tate Fogelman in Turn 3 for Caution 2. The race returned to green on Lap 99 and Nemechek grabbed the lead. Two laps later, in a heated battle for 35th, Norm Benning and Jennifer Jo Cobb got together in Turn 3 for the third caution—and the first of three incidents with the No. 6 truck. Nemechek maintained the point for the Stage 2 win.

A rash of cautions in the third stage slowed the pace of the race. Derek Kraus spun in Turn 2 for Caution 5. Deegan and Chase Purdy participated in a four-wide sandwich that sent Purdy's No. 23 truck spinning in Turn 2 on Lap 159.

The race had barely restarted when once again Benning and Cobb tussled again. Cobb eventually punted Benning in Turn 4. She retired under the damaged vehicle policy after 168 laps.

Nemechek maintained the lead until the 10th of 11 cautions on Lap 195 when Codie Rohrbaugh spun in Turn 1. Matt Crafton grabbed the lead out of the pits. He led 11 laps before Smith passed him on Lap 210. Smith held the lead with Nemechek and Busch in tow through the 11th and final caution when Kris Wright spun on the backstretch on Lap 213.

After the race returned to green on Lap 222, Nemechek took advice from spotter Tony Hirschmann and remained patient. Over the next 11 laps, he hunted down Smith and passed the No. 18 truck for the lead on Lap 233. For the final 17 laps, Nemechek was able to extend his advantage over Busch by .307-seconds for his first Richmond win.

“I know he tried getting me there at the end and this is the third time we’ve raced against each other this year and I’m one up on him so far in his own equipment so that’s nice,” Nemechek said of Busch. “Just super thankful, super blessed. Actually, this trophy and flag, before I walked out of the motor home, Taylor (Nemechek, wife) said you brought me home a trophy from Vegas now this is Aspen’s first race so bring her one. We did it.”

Nemechek retained the points lead and extended his advantage to 20 over Ben Rhodes.