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Daniel Hemric Looks for Better Outcome in Return to Five Flags Speedway with Southern Super Series

After Disappointing End to Snowball Derby, Hemric Out for Five Flags Revenge May 24

CONCORD, NC (May 16, 2013) – The last time Daniel Hemric left Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, he wasn’t holding the Tom Dawson trophy as the winner of the 45th Annual Snowball Derby last December.  Instead, a blown tire and contact with another competitor led to an early exit from the track with injuries to his neck muscles and a night’s stay at a local hospital in Pensacola. 

Now, Hemric is preparing for his first rematch with Five Flags Speedway since December’s hard crash in the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco event on May 24.  The Southern Super Series 125 presented by Crane Cams will be Hemric’s opportunity to overcome the disappointment from the Snowball Derby.

“The crash certainly wasn’t the best way to end the deal, but I always try to look at the positive side of it,” said Hemric, who will pilot the No. 98 for Carswell Motorsports.  “We had a really good car there so I’m really looking forward to going back there for the Southern Super Series race.  I have a love/hate relationship there, but I’m really looking forward to getting back.”

As disappointed as Hemric was with the outcome of the Snowball Derby, to escape with minor injuries became a learning experience in the importance of safety innovation.  As a driver who typically pilots multiple machines throughout the season, keeping himself safe became a far greater priority following the 2012 season.

“That was a first and hopefully a last, but I’m sure I’ll have a few more bump ups along the road,” said Hemric.  “It’s just one of those deals though, you know that when you get into it.  You hate for it to happen, you more or less hate it for your guys because they put in such hard work.

“Having an incident like that will open your eyes to a lot more things in the sport with safety.  I was forever a guy who would hear, ‘Hey, you want to drive my car?’ and I’d say, ‘Ok, I’ll be there tomorrow, whatever seat is in it is good, I don’t care. I’ll just drive it.’  And that’s not the case now. I’ve put a lot of effort into that part with The Joie of Seating.  They’re probably the only reason I was able to leave on a stretcher and walk, because of that seat.  So I put a lot more emphasis on the safety side of it now.  And it will definitely open your eyes as far as the motivation and what it takes to get back in the seat too.”

Once the event was in his rearview mirror and it was time to focus on his recovery, Hemric cited the support of his competitors and fans alike as motivation for his healthy return.

“I was definitely in bad shape when I left there,” said Hemric.  “But everyone saying ‘Get well soon’ and ‘Hurry up, we want to see you get back on the racetrack’ was the best motivation.  That’s what helped the healing curve and made it that much better on me to get back at it as soon as I could.  It was very impressive how much support I had throughout the whole entire race community from all over the country.  So that definitely opens your eyes to the support you have and the backing people give you and that’s what the sport is all about.”

With his attention now turned to the Southern Super Series in 2013, Hemric has been pleased with three top-three finishes in the first three events on the schedule to get the season off to a successful start at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville (TN), Gresham Motorsports Park (GA) and Montgomery Motor Speedway (AL).

“These finishes have been great,” said Hemric.  “Especially when you go to places like Nashville that you haven’t really seen a lot of and you go to Montgomery and run well, even unload off the truck well, it’s going well.  That’s what puts you in the right place leading into the middle and end of the year.  You hate to say it, but the beginning of the season sets the tone for the whole series.  So we’re very happy with how everything’s gone so far especially with building a new car and learning the new car and all of us working really well together.”

The next stop on the Southern Super Series schedule at Five Flags Speedway is also a point event for the track’s Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series and the overall Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship, which combines Super Late Model points between Five Flags and Mobile International Speedway in Alabama, which will host the Southern Super Series on May 25, one night after the Five Flags race. 

Five Flags is a place where Hemric has yet to take home a trophy.  And for a guy who’s competed in the Snowball Derby, he knows how special that would be, not to mention the guaranteed starting spot in the 300-lap crown jewel in December that comes with it. 

“It would be huge to win there just to have that spot in the Snowball Derby.  Just to have that behind you and not have to stress so much over it when that time comes.  And if you can win there, you can go about anywhere in the country and run good and I’m a firm believer in that.  We’ve always struggled trying to put that whole race together in the two or three we’ve run there.  It’s just a matter of getting your stuff lined up and making it last.”

The May 24 Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco 125 at Five Flags Speedway will also feature events for the track’s Modified, Sportsmen and Bomber divisions.  Ticket and hotel information can be found on the track’s official website, www.5flagsspeedway.com.   Saturday night, May 25, the Southern Super Series will be back in action to complete the Gulf Coast doubleheader weekend with the running of the Southern Super Series 125 presented by VDL Fuel Systems at Mobile.  That event, like the one at Five Flags, will count for Mobile’s Super Late Model series’ points, Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship series points and Southern Super Series points.

For more information on the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco, visit www.SouthernSuperSeries.com.  The Facebook page for the Southern Super Series is located at www.facebook.com/southernsuperseries and on Twitter it’s @SoSuperSeries.  For advertising or sponsorship questions, please contact the track representatives.  For media inquiries, please contact Matt Kentfield at 51 Sports via matt@51sports.net.

May 16, 2013