NASCAR Xfinity Series: Daniel Hemric lands 2020 ride at JR Motorsports

Daniel Hemric has landed a part-time ride with JR Motorsports for the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season after losing his Cup Series ride with Richard Childress Racing.

Daniel Hemric has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series season for Richard Childress Racing this season as a rookie after spending two full seasons competing in the Truck Series and then two full seasons competing in the Xfinity Series.

But Richard Childress Racing confirmed in mid-September that the 28-year-old Kannapolis, North Carolina would not be returning to the team for the 2020 season.

Then in early October, they confirmed that current Xfinity Series driver Tyler Reddick is set to replace Hemric behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet as the teammate to Austin Dillon next year, leaving Hemric without a ride.

Hemric will not return to the Cup Series next year despite the fact that he had been rumored to drive for Front Row Motorsports. In fact, he will not be a full-time driver next year at all.

But he is still set to compete in NASCAR in 2020, as he has landed a part-time ride with JR Motorsports to drive the #8 Chevrolet in 21 of the 33 races on the schedule.

Here is what Hemric had to say about this opportunity, according to NASCAR.

"“I want to thank Dale, Kelley (Earnhardt Miller) and everyone at JR Motorsports for believing in me. For a Kannapolis (N.C.) boy like me, driving for the Earnhardt family is pretty awesome. My goal here is simple — to go win races for JR Motorsports and to help their program any way that I can. I’ve raced against their cars before and I know how they’re capable of running. My focus is on finishing the Cup season out strong, but once the checkered flag flies at Homestead, we’ll set our sights on getting the No. 8 car to Victory Lane early and often next season.”"

Here is what team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who also hails from Kannapolis, North Carolina, had to say.

"“Daniel is a solid competitor with a great personality,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’ll be a quality addition to our lineup in 2020. We’re lucky to have him. I feel like he has grown as a driver from his time in the Cup Series. That will be valuable to him with this new opportunity to compete in the Xfinity Series. He’s a local Kannapolis (N.C.) native with a lot of determination to succeed, and I’m excited to work with him.”"