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Busy Young Man: Nemechek Eyes First Blizzard Series, SSS win at Friday’s Navy Federal 125

By Chuck Corder

Try this 36-hour itinerary on for size:

• Qualify outside Row 1 for the Snowball Derby on Friday evening at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola.
• Board a plane up to South Carolina and polish off an Allison Legacy season championship on Saturday.
• Celebrate, soak it in, catch your breath and hop on a return flight back to Pensacola for the 45th running of short-track racing’s preeminent event.

That was John Hunter’s Nemechek itinerary last December.

The 16 year old was on pace to pull off an unthinkable weekend sweep, leading the Derby early on before a pileup — set off by Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch — relegated him to an eventual 10th.

“It was fun,� he recalled of the whirlwind weekend. “We never had time to settle down. It was always, go, go, go. I just remember being happy that weekend.�

Nemechek had plenty to be thrilled about.

A top 10 as a Derby rookie? Dear ol’ dad, Joe Nemechek, can’t boast such an accomplishment. The elder Nemechek finished 32nd in his first appearance (1988) before climbing to seventh in his second and final Derby start (’89).

The son of the NASCAR fan favorite, John Hunter was one of only 15 racers in the 37-car field to finish on the lead lap behind champion Erik Jones.

He has showed zero signs of a sophomore slump in 2013.

John Hunter Nemechek brings his No. 8 Super Late Model back to Pensacola this weekend for the third Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series race of the season.

Pro Trucks, Sportsmen and Bombers join the festivities, which will also feature a frenzy of fireworks.

Grandstands admission when the gates open at 5 p.m. Friday will be $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, military and students; $5 for children, ages 6 to 11; and free for kids under-5.

The Navy Federal 125 marks the ninth of 16 races in the chase to be crowned the inaugural champion of the Southern Super Series, a touring circuit that stops at the south’s most prominent short tracks, most notably Five Flags.

Despite the absence of a victory, young Nemechek sits third in both the SSS and Blizzard Series points standings with Daniel Hemric ahead in both currently.

Nemechek does lead the Gulf Coast championship standings, tallying results from both Five Flags and Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway, while Hemric is wedged in second.

Nemechek hopes to pad his scintillating numbers this weekend, beginning at Five Flags, by capturing an elusive win.

“We’re gonna go for it every week,� he said. “We’d like to stay up there in points. We’re not gonna guard against it. But more than that we’d like to get that first win under our belt and get many more. That first one is hard to get.�

Nemechek thought he had his best opportunity the last time the SLMs came to the Gulf Coast. He ended up third at the PepsiMax 125 last month at Five Flags once Augie Grill’s victory was thrown out in post-race technical inspection for illegal gas, paving the way for a Hemric win.

The following night, budding rivals Nemechek and Hemric battled side-by-side in Mobile before Nemechek again ended up on the short end of the stick.

“You live and you learn,� Nemechek said placidly.

That mild-mannered motto has become his mantra. After an unprecedented 2012 that saw him win 15 of 18 Allison Legacy races, Nemechek understood his first full year in a SLM would not yield those same results.

“We’re building our notebook in late models this season, trying to figure out what the cars want,� he said. “There has been some frustration about it, but it’s all about experience for me.

“Last year in the few Super Late Models I was able to run, we ran good. We ran up front. But we tore up a lotta stuff. This year, we’re still getting up there, but we haven’t torn up as much … knock on wood.�

He credits that to the steady flow of discussions he has with his team.

Just like the open lines of communication Nemechek and his family must maintain with his understanding teachers amid his unique schedule, John Hunter knows he’s parked on the track if he and his racing team aren’t bouncing ideas off each other.

Especially at Five Flags.

“The track down there changes every day,� Nemechek said. “You’ve gotta have the car right and you’ve gotta have traction when you drive off.�

The teenager hopes to drive off Friday with a win, something he desperately seeks and not simply to get the 1,000-pound gorilla off his back.

After immediately bonding with Five Flag’s loyal legions last December, Nemechek quickly grasped an appreciation for the famed, half-mile asphalt oval.

“Meeting the fans in the infield — man, it was awesome — we talked with ’em every night,� he remembered. “They recognized dad, and we wound up just talking and talking.

“It sure would be cool to win at an historic track down there. Hopefully, luck will be on our side.�

One thing is for certain: This week, time will definitely be on Nemechek’s side.

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