MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Daniel Hemric finally got his moment of glory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and he made sure to celebrate in style.
On Friday night at Martinsville Speedway, Hemric muscled his way to the front late in the race, holding off teammate Tyler Ankrum to score his first-ever Truck Series victory. After years of near-misses and hard-fought battles, the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion finally broke through with a win—his first in 55 career Truck Series starts.
And how did he celebrate? With a picture-perfect backflip off the roof of his No. 19 Chevrolet, paying tribute to his longtime idol Carl Edwards.
A Long Road to Victory
Hemric’s NASCAR journey has been anything but easy. Despite his undeniable talent behind the wheel, he spent years grinding through the ranks, coming close but never sealing the deal in the Truck Series.
His perseverance paid off at Martinsville. Hemric showed patience and skill, staying in the mix throughout the race before making his move in the closing laps. A perfectly timed restart allowed him to wrestle the lead from Ankrum, and from there, he never looked back.
As the checkered flag waved, the emotion was clear. Hemric, known for his humble and determined nature, let out a roar on the radio. Moments later, fans watched as he climbed onto his truck’s roof, took a deep breath, and launched into his long-awaited backflip—a moment that will be replayed for years to come.
“This One Means Everything”
“Man, what a ride it’s been,” Hemric said in Victory Lane. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. To finally get it done with this group, at a place like Martinsville, it just means everything. That backflip was a long time coming!”
His win wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was also a big moment for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, proving they can compete with the heavyweights of the Truck Series.
With this breakthrough victory, the question now is: Can Hemric keep the momentum rolling? If Friday night was any indication, this might just be the beginning of a whole new chapter in his career.
For now, though, Hemric can enjoy the moment. After years of coming close, he’s finally a winner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series—and he stuck the landing.
