DENVER—The good thing about NASCAR Sprint Cup competition is that you don’t have to wait long to overcome a bad weekend racing. And that’s why Joe Nemechek and the Furniture Row Racing team can’t wait to get to Richmond (Va. ) International Raceway for this weekend’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Nemechek is coming off a frustrating performance at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., where he took an early exit from Sunday night’s race due to an accident. Nemechek’s departure from the Southern California race came on Lap 70 of 250 after his Chevrolet Impala SS broke loose and crashed into the concrete wall. He was credited with a 43rd-place finish
After going 17 straight races of running at the finish, Nemechek has gone home early in three of the last five events due to accidents.
“Hopefully this bad stretch is over,” said Nemechek. “Every person on this Furniture Row team is close and it hurts when we don’t finish. But right now, I feel good about Richmond, it’s been a good track for me in the past.”
Indeed it has. Richmond is one of the tracks where Nemechek has captured a victory—in May 2003.
“The first goal has not changed—we need to qualify,” offered Nemechek, who has qualified in 13 straight races and in 22 of 25 contested this season. “The second goal is to run the entire race and show improvement. We’re so close in getting to the next level.”
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