Photo Credit: Noel Lanier/OnPitRoad,com
NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Daniel Hemric is scheduled to make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut on April 21, 2018 at Richmond Raceway with partner Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff on the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Richard Childress Racing announced today on FS1’s “NASCAR Race Hub.”
This will be the first of two MENCS events in 2018 for the 27-year-old driver. He will also pilot the No. 8 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval on Sept. 30.
While competing in his rookie season in the Xfinity Series, Hemric served as a stand-in driver for RCR in 2017 during MENCS practices at Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and ISM Raceway. He also qualified the No. 27 Chevrolet at Texas and served as a test driver for RCR’s Cup teams during the Goodyear Tire test at the Charlotte road course in October 2017.
“You only get one chance to make your Cup Series debut, and it is pretty incredible to know that I am able to do it with Richard Childress Racing and with a partner such as Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff,” said Hemric.
“RCR and Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff have been so influential in so many drivers’ careers – a lot of my heroes growing up. To know they will play a large role in the next step of my career and my initial Cup Series debut is very special,” he said.
“To make my debut at Richmond will make me feel at home, since I spent years coming up through the ranks at short-tracks across the country. To do it again in front of my hometown crowd in Charlotte later in the year is an overwhelming feeling,” said Hemric. “Many people have laid everything on the line to get me to this point and I am extremely grateful to all of those people for putting me in position to get this shot in the Cup Series. These are going to be two very special weekends, to say the least.”“Since joining our organization, Daniel Hemric has shown his determination and dedication to this sport both on and off the track,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR. “He has proven his ability behind the wheel by making the Championship 4 in the Xfinity Series in 2017 and his continued success this season. Making his Cup Series debut is the next step in his career and we are proud to have him take that step with RCR.”
Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff served as a primary partner on Hemric’s No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity Series in four events in 2017, including the dramatic playoff race at ISM Raceway in which Hemric raced his way into the Championship 4.
“Daniel Hemric was a great ambassador for our brand in 2017,” said Dave Savoca, President of Smokey Mountain Chew. “His on-track success, coupled with his infectious personality and marketability, were a great fit for our company, and we look forward to building on that partnership in 2018 as Daniel makes his Cup Series debut.”
In 2018, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff is also serving as a season-long associate partner on Hemric’s No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series. This partnership also marks Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff’s first venture into the MENCS.
“Our company has seen measurable growth in our brand through our various partnerships in NASCAR,” said Savoca. “To be able to take our program to the highest level of competition, in one of NASCAR’s premier divisions – the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – with such a top-notch organization and driver is both an honor and a privilege for everyone on the Smokey Mountain Team. We look forward to cheering on Daniel and the No. 8 team in 2018.”
