KANNAPOLIS, NC :: If Daniel Hemric plans to repeat as champion of the Southern Super Series, the march forward will have to start this weekend in the Yellowhammer 125 at Montgomery Motor Speedway.
The defending titlist has been consistent this season but just hasn’t displayed the muscle to chase down Bubba Pollard, Augie Grill and Donnie Wilson – the dominant forces of the new year. His best SSS finish of the season is surprisingly a fourth in his most recent start at Montgomery in the Rumble by the River 125 on May 10.
Remarkably, Hemric has won all over the country in a variety of Super Late Model tours including the prestigious CRA Redbud 300 on June 14 in addition to two PASS South events earlier in the season. The difference has been the new white-bodied chassis that Hemric and Carswell Motorsports have utilized exclusively in the Southern Super Series while the blue-bodied championship chassis has continued to win elsewhere.
“Being able to win those races helps to keep the mojo up for everybody,” Hemric said. “We’ve been able to gain every time out with this new car. Although taking a win in the Southern Super Series remains the ultimate goal, it’s a lot tougher than people think it is. It’s a whole other level of competition down there.”
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His team owner, Jake Carswell, believes that it is just a matter of time until the new chassis begins to display the same success as its predecessor. The key will be building a database on the car, just like they did on the current car over the past decade with Hemric and Justin Wakefield.
With that said, the proven commodity may be the way to go, with only eight more races remaining in the SSS season and 62 points separating Hemric (in fourth) from championship-leading Pollard.
“We haven’t talked to Daniel since the Redbud because he’s been working on his Legends program but I think we’re going to take the blue car (the old chassis) to Montgomery,” Carswell told Race 22. “The key is making sure that Daniel is comfortable and happy because he’s a key part of our success but we haven’t completely made up our minds yet.”
Hemric believes the new car will eventually be as fast as its predecessor but conceded that making gains will be dependent on gaining track time over the next few weeks.
“I have faith in the new car,” Hemric said. “I’m really just excited about the progress we’ve made over the past few weeks with it.”
The current Southern Super Series championship standings heading into Montgomery can be found below.
- Bubba Pollard Ldr.
- Anderson Bowen -15
- Augie Grill -26
- Daniel Hemric -62
- Donnie Wilson -65
- Kyle Grissom -86
- Hunter Robbins -96
- Casey Smith -167
- John Hunter Nemechek -187
- Allen Karnes -272
