Trucks: John Hunter Nemechek Wrecks to Victory in Canada
By Alex Herbst
Rubbing is racing? John Hunter Nemechek fought hard for victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and practically wrecked in the process with Cole Custer.
Just one race a year, the top truckers in America turn left and right around the race course. Each year, they head north to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and challenge each other to see who will be king of the road courses. And on Sunday, John Hunter Nemechek came out on top in a bare knuckles fight.
For much of the event, JR Motorsports driver Cole Custer was dominant. The polesitter for the Sunday show, Custer led the most laps on the day with 39 laps total. But thanks to some pit strategy, the order at the front got shuffled and John Hunter Nemechek emerged at the top.
While the opening half of the race was relatively calm, as the laps wound down the cautions increased. These incidents included some on the bubble of the series chase, like Cameron Hayley. There would be others with vicious hits too, perhaps none harder than that for Kaz Grala.
All these cautions would set up overtime once again at CTMP, something many in the Camping World Truck Series have grown accustom to. What they did not expect was the finish they got.
Cole Custer would take the lead on the final restart, and held the lead up until the final corner on the final lap of the race. Then things got physical and just a bit dirty.
It would take nearly ten minutes for NASCAR to determine the winner, as both cars came across the line in the grass. Even Daniel Hemric in third, who crossed the finish line on the track, could have been the winner. In the end, John Hunter Nemechek was declared the winner, a move that would be seen controversial by some because of his actions on track.
Understandably, tempers were hot after the incident, and they quickly reached a boiling point as Custer confronted Nemechek near the starter’s stand.
This is Nemechek’s second win of 2016, but could prove to be one of the most controversial of his career. Conversation about whether or not his actions were warranted, or even welcomed in the sport, will fuel discussions around the sport for the coming week.
Here are the full results from the Chevy Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park:
- John Hunter Nemechek, Chevrolet, NEMCO Motorsports
- Cole Custer, Chevrolet, JR Motorsports
- Daniel Hemric, Ford, Brad Keselowski Racing
- Matt Crafton, Toyota, ThorSport Racing
- Christopher Bell, Toyota, Kyle Busch Motorsports
- Tyler Reddick, Ford, Brad Keselowski Racing
- Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, GMS Racing
- Ben Kennedy, Chevrolet, GMS Racing
- Cameron Hayley, Toyota, ThorSport Racing
- William Byron, Toyota, Kyle Busch Motorsports
- Gary Klutt, Toyota, Kyle Busch Motorsports
- John Wes Townley, Chevrolet, Athenian Motorsports
- Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, Bolen Motorsports
- D.J. Kennington, Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports
- Austin Wayne Self, Toyota, AM Win-Tron Racing
- Brett Moffitt, Toyota, Red Horse Racing
- Cody Ware, Chevrolet, SS Green Light Racing
- Timothy Peters, Toyota, Red Horse Racing
- Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Martins Family Racing
- Norm Benning, Chevrolet, MB Motorsports
- Ryan Truex, Toyota, Hattori Racing Enterprises
- Spencer Gallagher, Chevrolet, GMS Racing
- Austin Cindric, Ford, Brad Keselowski Racing
- Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, MAKE Motorsports
- Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, MAKE Motorsports
- Kaz Grala, Chevrolet, GMS Racing
- Rico Abreu, Toyota, ThorSport Racing
- Tyler Young, Chevrolet, Young’s Motorsports
- Justin Haley, Chevrolet, Braun Racing
- Ben Rhodes, Toyota, ThorSport Racing
- Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, Contreras Motorsports
- Caleb Roark, Chevrolet, JJC Racing
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There’s just one race left before the first-ever Truck Series chase for the championship begins. Who will clinch the final two spots in the hunt? Find out in two weeks as the toughest truckers take on the Chicagoland Speedway on FS1.