After spending a season with JR Motorsports, Daniel Hemric will take his talents to Huntersville, North Carolina and join Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program for the 2021 season.
The team confirmed the news on Thursday.
Hemric, 29, will be the veteran at JGR’s Xfinity program, both in age and experience on track. He has the most starts cumulative between the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as the NASCAR Cup Series.
He will pilot the No. 18 Supra full-time, replacing Riley Herbst.
Please help us welcome @DanielHemric to the JGR family! Daniel will be driving the No. 18 #Supra in the 2021 @XfinityRacing series. #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/75kRb49RgY
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) November 12, 2020
It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for me over the last few years, but I can’t say how thankful I am for the opportunity to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Hemric. “Their reputation speaks for itself. I know they have high expectations for me, as I do as well, and I could not be more excited to chase the Xfinity Series championship with them next season.”
“We’re excited to have Daniel join our Xfinity Series team,” said Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development for Joe Gibbs Racing. “He has proven the ability to run up front and we believe his experience and consistency will be a benefit to our overall program. We look forward to him competing with Brandon (Jones) and Harrison (Burton) for wins and contending for a championship.”
Current driver of the No. 18, Riley Herbst, confirmed his departure in a tweet at noon on Thursday, the same time JGR released the news about Daniel Hemric.
— Riley Herbst (@rileyherbst) November 12, 2020
Hemric spent the past season at JR Motorsports part-time after being left out of a Cup Series ride following the 2019 season when RCR moved Tyler Reddick into he No. 8 Camaro.
Making 21 starts in the Xfinity Series for JRM, Hemric recorded seven top-5 finishes, 12 top-10s and seven DNF’s.
As for Herbst, 2020 could have gone much better for the young Toyota driver.
Recording over 20 incidents in his debut season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Herbst finished in the top-5 only four times. His two teammates, Harrison Burton and Brandon Jones, both found victory lane multiple times during 2020.
Herbst is rumored to head to the Stewart-Haas Racing camp, and the No. 98 Mustang, vacated by Chase Briscoe.
As for sponsorship for the No. 18 entry, sponsorship has not been announced, but it is expected that Monster will follow Herbst to wherever he lands next.
