In early December, Daniel Hemric stood on the stage at the Music City Center in Nashville, looking out over the gathered crowd. He took a deep breath, then began his remarks as the newly minted NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.
“What an honor it is to be standing up here tonight,” he began in his Southern accent, a telltale sign of his upbringing in and around Kannapolis, N.C. “When I think back through the years and all of the ups and the downs that come with chasing this dream, in all honesty it all kind of blurs together. But one thing that has always been clear, and has always made the difference in my life, is the people that have helped me along the way.
“There’s an old saying, many of you have heard it, if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, you go together. … This championship is as much of a testament to all those people, as it is to me.”
Not quite a month earlier, Hemric had muscled his No. 18 Toyota Supra from Joe Gibbs Racing past Austin Cindric’s Ford on the last lap of the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, claiming his first NASCAR national series victory and first championship by inches at the start-finish line.
As Hemric celebrated with a tire-shredding burnout and his signature backflip off the roof of his car, the victory set off another celebration in all corners of the stock car world. Indeed, it’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t crossed paths with Hemric from his time in Legend Cars, late models, or in NASCAR.
People have gravitated toward the driver, now 31, his entire life, seeing in him a likable and personable blue-collar racer who had the talent to “make it.” He just needed a little help to get there.
Hemric’s career began as a youngster in go-karts and Bandoleros with support from his dad, Brian; mom, Christi; and stepdad, Stephen Christopher “Woody” Woods. But as Hemric moved through the ranks, the costs grew.
Among those who supported Hemric’s early efforts was Tim Ladyga, today the car chief for the No. 21 entry driven by Austin Hill for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series. He is also a longtime Legend Car owner.
Ladyga first met Woods when Ladyga was racing late models in Connecticut. When he moved south, he re-connected with the family and met Hemric when he was 4 years old. Ladyga and his wife, Cheryl, followed Hemric’s go-kart exploits for some time.
Years later, Tim and Cheryl Ladyga ran into Hemric’s mom, who said her son was racing Bandoleros at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We decided to go over and watch him,” Ladyga said. “That’s when I decided I was going to buy a Legend Car and have Daniel race.”
However, to do so Ladyga needed to sell his 35th anniversary 1999 Ford Mustang, a vehicle he bought back a decade later.
“I just saw that he had the drive in him,” Ladyga said. “Daniel’s family … my family, we weren’t super wealthy people with tons of money who could just go buy stuff and go racing. With his talent, I knew with a little bit of help from me, from his side of the family and a few other people, that it could move him into the next level which would be coming out of the Bandolero, going into the Legend car.
“That’s about as far as I could probably go, is with the Legend Car. And, hopefully, he could win races, win championships, win national championships.”
The pair teamed up for the first time in 2006 and Ladyga and Hemric went on to win races and multiple Summer Shootout titles at Charlotte over the next decade.
In 2007, Hemric also met Hoyt Demis, a local to High Point, N.C., who also happened to be a Legend Car racer and avid race fan. He and his wife, Lori, have owned a commercial painting company for 37 years.
Demis taught Sunday school and something about Hemric’s personality and demeanor stuck out when he met the young driver for the first time. In addition, his natural talent was obvious.
“It was just remarkable to me that every time Daniel showed up, no matter whose car he was driving, he would just win the race,” Demis said.
Hemric soon began driving for Demis as well. Among the duo’s wins and championships was the 2010 Legends Million at Charlotte. It netted Hemric and team a $250,000 payday and helped put the driver on the national map.
In addition to driving duties, Hemric also worked diligently with crew chief Dan Snyder to set up the team and customer cars.
In the early 2010s, Hemric was beginning to transition to the late model ranks. At Ace (N.C.) Speedway, Demis approached Jake Carswell, who along with wife Deanna own the No. 98 super late model made famous in the Southeast by Jody Ridley. Together the Carswells operate the Woodstock, Ga.-based Jubilee and Xtreme Conferences and Winter Jam concert tour. Carswell knew of Hemric through Hemric’s now wife, fellow driver Kenzie Ruston, and knew he had won the Legends Million. Knowing the Carswells were looking for a new driver, Demis pitched Hemric to Jake Carswell.
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