Daniel Hemric Has Close Call After Making Contact with Wall at Loudon In Opening Lap of the Team EJP 175
You know that feeling when your heart drops into your stomach? That’s exactly what happened watching Daniel Hemric’s No. 19 Chevrolet slam into the wall during Stage 1 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. What could have been a race-ending disaster turned into a testament to both skill and luck, which are two things every NASCAR driver needs in equal measure.
The Incident That Had Everyone Holding Their Breath
Lap 1 brought drama nobody wanted to see, especially not Hemric. Two lapped trucks made contact ahead of him, creating a chain reaction that sent his Chevy sideways faster than you could blink. The wall at New Hampshire doesn’t forgive mistakes, and for a split second, it looked like Hemric’s playoff hopes might crumble right there in Stage 1.
But here’s the thing about veteran drivers like Hemric. They’ve been through enough wrecks to know how to minimize damage. Instead of overcorrecting and spinning back into traffic, he kept his composure and let the car slide up into the safer barrier. Smart driving under pressure.
The replay showed just how close this came to being a multi-car pileup. With trucks running three-wide behind him, Hemric’s controlled crash likely saved several other drivers from getting caught up in the mess. That’s the kind of awareness that separates good drivers from great ones.
Why Lap 1 Incidents Hit Different in the Playoffs
When you’re fighting for a championship, every single lap matters. Lap 1 incidents feel like a punch to the gut because you haven’t even had a chance to race yet. One moment you’re rolling off pit road with high hopes, the next you’re staring at crumpled sheet metal and wondering if your season just ended. Hemric knew what was at stake. The Round of 10 finale at New Hampshire was already going to be tough enough without starting from behind due to damage.
But that’s racing sometimes the track reaches up and grabs you when you least expect it. The emotional toll of these early incidents can’t be understated. Drivers spend all week preparing, studying videos, and working with their crews to get the setup just right. Then boom – through no fault of your own, you’re playing catch-up before the race even gets going.
New Hampshire’s Unforgiving Nature
New Hampshire Motor Speedway has never been kind to drivers who make mistakes. The concrete walls don’t give an inch, and the track’s unique characteristics mean that small problems become big ones in a hurry. When Hemric hit that wall, you could almost hear the collective wince from every driver who’s been in that same spot.
The track’s flat corners and long straightaways create a unique challenge. Unlike some tracks where you might scrub off speed gradually, New Hampshire forces quick decisions. Hemric made the right call by not fighting the car too hard – sometimes accepting a controlled crash is better than trying to save it and making things worse.
What made this incident particularly scary was the speed differential between the lapped trucks and the leaders. When slower traffic gets sideways in front of the field, it creates exactly the kind of situation that happened to Hemric. Racing is about managing risk, and sometimes that risk management goes out the window through no fault of your own.
The Human Side of High-Speed Drama
Behind the helmet and fire suit, Daniel Hemric is just like any of us – someone trying to do their job at the highest level while dealing with split-second decisions that could change everything. The relief in his voice over the radio after climbing out uninjured was genuine. These guys are tough, but they’re not invincible.
The crew chief and spotter did everything right, talking him through the incident and keeping him calm as the safety workers arrived. That’s the kind of teamwork that often goes unnoticed but makes all the difference when things go sideways. The walking away part matters most. Championships and playoff points are important, but going home to family at the end of the day trumps everything else. Hemric’s ability to avoid a harder hit probably prevented injuries that could have affected him for weeks or months.
Looking Forward After the Wall
Lap 1 incidents test more than just driving skill, but they also test character. How a driver and team respond to early adversity often determines whether they’ll be factors later in the race. Hemric’s experience showed as he kept his composure and avoided making a bad situation worse. The damage assessment would determine whether the No. 19 team could continue or if their day was done.
Modern safety equipment protected Hemric from serious injury, allowing him to walk away and potentially return to action. That’s progress worth celebrating, even when everything else goes wrong. For fans watching at home, moments like these remind us why we tune in every week. NASCAR’s unpredictability means heroes and heartbreak often happen within seconds of each other, sometimes on the very first lap.
