ANDERSON, Ind. – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Daniel Hemric will return to his super late model roots later this summer.
Hemric announced plans on Friday to compete in the ARCA/CRA Super Series-sanctioned 53rd annual Redbud 500 at Anderson Speedway, driving an entry out of the Wimmer Motorsports stable.
This year’s running of the Redbud, scheduled for Monday, July 15, will mark Hemric’s first time back at the quarter-mile bullring since 2015.
Hemric was the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour champion in 2012, winning a series-record eight races that season. He remains second on the series’ all-time win list with those eight wins.
Hemric is a former winner of the Redbud 400. In 2014, he came to Anderson and qualified on the pole in his first start. He took the lead with 23 laps remaining, passing short-track superstar Bubba Pollard to take the top spot thanks to a four-tire call at the halfway break.
In his two Redbud starts at Anderson, Hemric has one win, one pole and two top-five finishes.
“Anderson is such a special place,” said Hemric. “The Redbud 400 was one of the first crown jewels of super late model racing that I was able to win, so yeah, Anderson will always mean a lot to me. I actually had a shot to win it a year later and just fell short — ran top-five. It’s just a cool atmosphere. So many legends have raced there.
“Dick Trickle’s comment about flying a jet fighter in a gymnasium came from racing at Anderson and some of racing’s biggest legends have won that event,” Hemric added. “I’m looking forward to going back and getting another shot at it with Wimmer Motorsports.”
Hemric has worked his way through the NASCAR ranks since his 2014 Redbud victory. He transitioned into a full-time NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series ride in 2015 and 2016.
In 2017, Hemric joined Richard Childress Racing. In the two years he raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he scored 23 top-five finishes and made the Championship 4 both seasons.
This year saw Hemric elevated to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, taking over the iconic No. 8 for RCR alongside team owner Richard Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon.
The Redbud 400 will once again be run the Monday after NASCAR weekend at Kentucky.
The race is one of the major stops within the ARCA/CRA Super Series season, and the format for the Redbud 400 will be similar to previous years. Four-hundred laps will be contested with controlled cautions for pit stops.
All pit stops will take place within the infield of the quarter-mile.
The Redbud 400 has been run with different series over its 53-year history, including the Automobile Racing Club of America, American Speed Ass’n and now, the Champion Racing Ass’n.
Former winners of the Redbud include Hemric, Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Bob Senneker, Dick Trickle, Kyle Busch and Erik Jones.