“Daniel’s advice changed me—calmed me down when I was a mess,” said Bubba Wallace about his mentor, Daniel Hemric. Now, Hemric’s own calm has turned his struggle finally into triumph. He’s been through it all and seen everything in his career. Once a contender in the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing, he faced a tough 2024 after being replaced by Ty Dillon for 2025 after a season that didn’t quite click. “It stung,” he admitted in an interview, shutting down the “demotion” talk with raw honesty: “I don’t see it as a step back. It’s a chance to race, to win, to feel that fire again.”

That fire was flickering last year, but a move to the Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing reignited it. Co-owner Bill Hilgemann saw it, too: “Daniel’s leadership and experience—he’s the real deal. We knew he’d bring something special.” On March 28, 2025, at Martinsville Speedway, he clinched his first Truck Series win, and oh man, what a moment it was! Hemric pulled off something that would bring back nostalgia to his fans, but also veteran Carl Edwards. It’s like a piece of NASCAR’s soul came roaring back to life. Well, this was something Hemric was already looking at!

Daniel Hemric is flipping the clock back in time

“I’m really encouraged with the last couple of weeks and looking forward to Friday night at Martinsville. Our Gates Hydraulics team has been evolving through these first few races, and I thought we did a great job of putting a consistent night together last week. We just need to continue that process this weekend, and we have a great opportunity in front of us. Obviously, this No. 19 truck was dominant last year, so we have a good starting point. Hopefully, we can execute a clean night and get the same result.” Hemric said ahead of the race, as if prophesizing the results.

After years of ups and downs, seeing him climb out of that No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevy and flip off the truck was icing on the top. It wasn’t just a win; it was a memory reborn. That backflip tied Hemric to Edwards in a way that’s hard to ignore. Edwards, a NASCAR Hall of Famer inducted in 2025, was known for his acrobatic flair and relentless drive, qualities Hemric mirrored at Martinsville. Edwards joined Prime Video’s broadcast team, bringing his passion back to the sport he left in 2016. Both men faced career pivots—Edwards with his abrupt retirement, Hemric with his shift to Trucks- both turned setbacks into comebacks. But, the way to success wasn’t easy.

Early 2025 had its highs—a top-five at Homestead-Miami and a gritty 13th at Las Vegas—but also chaos. Crashes, strategy gambles, and pure bad luck tested him. His momentum was building. And when that shot came, it was all unleashed. A crash-filled race saw leaders drop like flies, but Hemric stayed cool, edging out teammate Tyler Ankrum in the final laps.

Cousin Carl’s 28 Cup wins and Hemric’s gritty resurgence share a thread: a refusal to fade. Seeing Hemric flip off that truck felt like Edwards’ legacy leaping back into the spotlight, a baton passed through time. This wasn’t just about a trophy or that $50,000 bonus from ‘The Trip. ‘ It was personal. Hemric’s last NASCAR win was in 2021 in the Xfinity Series. Four looong years. “I’ve been chasing this feeling,” he told, “To do it here, with this team—it’s everything.” Crew chief Chad Bryant felt it, too: “Daniel’s heart is in this. He’s not just driving; he’s building something.”

Hemric’s move to McAnally-Hilgemann wasn’t just a job switch, it was a culture shift. He reshaped the No. 19 team. The old guard Christian Eckes and crew chief Charles Denike had moved on, and Hemric seized the chance to mold a fresh ethos. Mentoring young teammates like Tyler Ankrum, Jack Wood, and Connor Mosack, he leaned on his Cup and Xfinity experience while admitting the

Truck Series had evolved.“I’ve had some of them, like, you know, talk about my prior experiences at different levels and kind of what that looks like,” Hemric said. “And, you know, things to be aware of, and things that you think are a big deal that kind of find out down the road weren’t such a big deal. So (it’s) been fun having this conversation with these guys… But definitely, yeah, for me, just coming into a race team back kind of reacclimating to the Truck Series, I’ve asked almost as many questions as they have, right?”

Hemric’s story mirrors life—falling, fighting, and finding your way back. As the clock ticked past 7:34 PM PDT that Friday, we sat there, replaying that backflip. Carl Edwards, a Hall of Famer who left too soon, would’ve smiled. Hemric didn’t just win a race, he proved fallen stars can rise again. And damn, that feels good. to add to this excitement, an iconic race is about to unfold for us to witness!

Busch vs Hemric set to blast at Memorial Day clash

Kyle Busch and Daniel Hemric—two NASCAR giants—are heading to Oxford Plains Speedway for the Memorial Day Clash 200 on May 27, 2025. These guys aren’t strangers to the track, but this time, it’s personal—they’re chasing redemption. Last year’s Celebration of America 300 at Oxford left them bruised.

Busch was up front, tearing it up, until race contact dumped him to 24th. Hemric limped home 21st, two laps down. Now, they’re back, and we can almost hear the engines screaming already. “We are very excited about Kyle and Daniel returning to compete at Oxford this year,” said Tom Mayberry, Pro All Stars Series president and Oxford Plains owner. “A lot of people worked really hard to put this deal together. I think it’s going to be great for the fans and the competitors.”

Busch, with 232 NASCAR wins across the top series, knows Oxford’s magic as he won the Oxford 250 in 2011. Daniel Hemric, fresh off his Martinsville Truck Series triumph, brings his own fire. This isn’t just another race; it’s the kickoff to the Oxford Crown Jewel Triple Crown. Time trials will lock in the front row, and heats will set the rest of the 35-car field—it’s going to be chaos, and I’m here for it.

My heart’s racing thinking about it. Busch and Hemric, two champs with something to prove, are tearing up that Maine asphalt. I can’t wait to see them fight it out, feel the roar, and maybe, just maybe, watch them steal a piece of glory under those Memorial Day lights.