Daniel Brian Hemric Bio
Daniel Brian Hemric (born January 27, 1991) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Hemric competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he drives the No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado RST for McAnally–Hilgemann Racing. He has also made starts across the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series, earning a reputation as a steady, consistent racer.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Brian Hemric was born on January 27, 1991, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and grew up in a community deeply connected to stock car racing. He is the son of Brian Hemric and Christi, and from an early age he showed a strong interest in motorsports.
Hemric began his career at the age of five, competing in go-kart racing at Concord Speedway. He won eleven races and a track championship at the North Carolina facility before moving up to Bandolero cars five years later. During those early years, he developed his signature backflip celebration, inspired by fellow racer Carl Edwards.
As a teenager, Hemric transitioned to Legends cars and quickly established himself as one of the country’s top young drivers. In 2008, he captured the track’s Pro championship and the first of two back-to-back Legends Pro national championships, laying the groundwork for a move into NASCAR’s developmental ladder.
Path to NASCAR
By 2009, Hemric had accumulated nearly sixty wins in just under eighty starts across Legends competition. That season he secured his second national Legends Pro championship and added the Summer Shootout Series title on the strength of six wins in ten starts. In 2010, he won the Legends Million at Charlotte Motor Speedway, earning the largest paycheck in Legends car history at $250,000.
Hemric expanded into NASCAR’s Modified tours in late 2010, debuting in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and running selected Modified races over the next three seasons. In 2012, he captured the Champion Racing Association JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour championship, scoring eight victories in late model competition. He followed that up in 2013 with the Summer Shootout Series championship, the Southern Super Series late model title, and the Blizzard Series championship.
Daniel Brian Hemric Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
Hemric made his NASCAR national series debut in October 2013 at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 6 Chevrolet for Sharp Gallaher Racing in the Camping World Truck Series. He went on to finish thirteenth at Phoenix International Raceway and added a solid twelfth-place run at Homestead in 2014 with NTS Motorsports. Those early national starts signaled that he was ready for a full-time opportunity in the Truck Series.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2015–2016)
In 2015, Hemric moved to NTS Motorsports for his first full-time Truck Series campaign behind the wheel of the No. 14 California Clean Power Chevrolet Silverado. He posted a best finish of fourth at Dover International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ending the season seventh in the championship standings.
He joined Brad Keselowski Racing for 2016 and drove the No. 19 Ford F-Series, opening the year with an eighth-place finish at Daytona. Hemric racked up seventeen top-five finishes without a trip to Victory Lane and qualified for the Chase as the highest-ranked winless driver. He returned to the Truck Series in 2018 for a one-off start with Young’s Motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2017–2021)
Hemric joined Richard Childress Racing for the 2017 Xfinity Series season in the No. 21 Chevy Camaro. He finished the year fourth in points, advancing to the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the lone non-JR Motorsports driver, despite battery issues that ultimately dropped him thirteen laps down.
After moving to JR Motorsports in 2020, Hemric returned to full-time competition in 2021 with Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Xfinity car. He locked himself into the Championship 4 alongside Austin Cindric, A. J. Allmendinger, and Noah Gragson. On November 6, 2021, he used a last-lap overtime pass of Cindric at Phoenix Raceway to win his first career NASCAR race and clinch the 2021 Xfinity Series championship. His ten runner-up finishes prior to that victory tied him with Dale Jarrett for the most in Xfinity Series history.
NASCAR Cup Series Era (2018–Present)
Hemric’s first Cup Series start came at the 2018 Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond, where he qualified 22nd and finished 32nd. Richard Childress Racing announced in September 2018 that he would run the No. 31 Chevrolet full-time in 2019, before the team later moved him to the No. 8 car for that season.
He debuted the No. 8 with a gold paint scheme honoring RCR’s 50th Anniversary at the 2019 Daytona 500. He scored his first career Busch Pole Award at Kansas Speedway and finished 25th in points, earning 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. After his release from RCR, Hemric split time with JR Motorsports and Kaulig Racing, returned to full-time Cup competition in 2024 with Kaulig’s No. 31, and continues to balance part-time Xfinity and Cup starts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hemric is widely recognized for his patience, race-long consistency, and ability to capitalize in the closing laps of long runs. He has shown a particular knack for executing late-race passes under pressure, most notably his overtime move for the 2021 Xfinity title, and he has built strong results across short tracks and intermediate ovals alike.
Notable Races and Milestones
Beyond his championship-winning pass at Phoenix in 2021, Hemric captured his first career Truck Series victory at Martinsville Speedway in 2025, passing teammate Tyler Ankrum with three laps to go. He also earned the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year award and recorded his first career Xfinity pole at Richmond in 2017.
Daniel Brian Hemric Career Wins
Daniel Brian Hemric’s most significant victory came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where his overtime win at Phoenix Raceway in 2021 delivered both his first NASCAR victory and the series championship.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Hemric won one NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the 2021 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, which also clinched the series title. He has earned multiple poles, including his first career Xfinity pole at Richmond in 2017, and recorded double-digit top-ten finishes across multiple seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the national series, Hemric has collected regional and developmental titles, including two Legends Pro national championships, the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour championship, the 2013 Summer Shootout Series title, the 2013 Southern Super Series championship, and the 2013 Blizzard Series championship. In 2025, he captured his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Martinsville Speedway.
Daniel Brian Hemric Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Daniel Brian Hemric is the son of Brian Hemric and Christi. His father introduced him to short-track racing at a young age, and the family supported his move from karts to Legends cars as a teenager.
Personal Life
Hemric is married to Kenzie Ruston, a former K&N Pro Series East driver. The couple announced their engagement on July 28, 2015, and married on January 7, 2017. They welcomed a daughter on May 9, 2020, and a son on December 23, 2022. In September 2019, Hemric established the Daniel Hemric Be the Change Scholarship with Rowan–Cabarrus Community College to support students pursuing motorsports, welding, or mechanical engineering.
2025 Season Performance
Daniel Brian Hemric returned to full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition in 2025 with McAnally–Hilgemann Racing, taking over the No. 19 Chevrolet Silverado RST. He opened the season with a seventh-place finish at Daytona International Speedway.
Just over a month later, Hemric scored his first career Truck Series victory at Martinsville Speedway, passing teammate Tyler Ankrum with three laps to go. The Martinsville win served as a defining moment for both driver and team, signaling a strong rebound for McAnally–Hilgemann Racing.
With momentum from his Martinsville victory and the consistency that defined his earlier NASCAR climbs, Hemric entered the rest of 2025 focused on contending in the Truck Series playoffs. His partnership with McAnally–Hilgemann Racing and Chevrolet positioned him as a factor in the late-season championship picture.