NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Speed51.com photo courtesy Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville —
Redemption.
That was what Saturday night was all about for 17-year-old John-Hunter Nemechek at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville.
After losing a win in the Southern Super Series in April at the historic track, Nemechek left no doubt as to the winner of Saturday night’s All-American 400 for pro late models, leading an astounding 294 of the feature event’s 300 laps en route to a $12,500 payday and one of the traditional guitar trophies given to track winners.
Nemechek held off a late race charge from track regular Willie Allen, but was never seriously threatened throughout the event. Only losing the lead twice on restarts to Anderson Bowen and Brian Campbell, the young hotshoe quickly surged back to the front both times to retake the top spot.
The win is one John-Hunter calls the biggest of his career to date.
“It was an awesome weekend for us. We came back here for some redemption,”Nemechek said in victory lane. “We lost one here in the spring due to tech after the race. It was a stupid mistake on our part. We thought we had something and it ended up being the wrong thing.”
“Right after that race, we circled this race and said we are going to try our best to win it. My guys gave me an awesome car all weekend. It’s unbelievable to lead 294 of the 300 laps in the All-American 400. It is a difficult task to do, but we had a dominating car. Hopefully, we can carry on this momentum to Phoenix next week in the Truck and then to the Derby.”
Willie Allen’s charge ran out one spot short, but the Fairgrounds regular had an even longer day than most. Allen had to race his way into the main event through the 100-lap last chance race (which he won) after his qualifying time was disallowed for a post-qualifying technical infraction.
Allen was pressuring Nemechek heavily for the race lead before a caution with 18 laps to go bunched the field back up. Brandon Johnson and John Bolen’s spin in turn four gave the former NASCAR veteran one final chance to challenge, but Nemechek was simply too strong down the stretch — forcing Allen to settle for second by just under a second at the final flag.
Thirteen caution flags in all slowed the event, including two competition yellows and a multi-car pileup on lap 120 that eliminated six cars from contention on the frontstretch.
Chuck Barnes Jr. finished third and Anderson Bowen crossed the line fourth. T.J. Reaid rounded out the top-five.
