Nemechek, who led the Xfinity Collection with seven wins this season and was one of the constant performers all year long, got here one lap in need of amassing win No. 8 and a sequence title together with it.
With Cole Custer main the way in which on the begin to additional time in Saturday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, Nemechek shortly powered to the lead after taking the inexperienced flag.
However as the sphere entered Flip 1, Nemechek drifted up the monitor, Justin Allgaier slid under him after which Custer made it three-wide and escaped with the lead exiting Flip 2.
Custer would grasp on to say the win and the sequence championship, however Nemechek’s end was way more eventful. He tagged the wall and obtained extraordinarily free, banged off Jeb Burton and into Rajah Caruth and eventually slammed exhausting into the wall.
The harm to Nemechek’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was in depth and regardless of main the second-most laps within the race, Nemechek limped dwelling to a twenty eighth place end.
“I simply drove down in and it didn’t flip. I don’t know if we had a right-front (tire) begin taking place or what precisely it was. I simply drove in, and it didn’t flip,” Nemechek, 26, stated. “Man, I hate it for our guys. Our (automotive) was actually, actually quick.
“Simply sucks to finish our season this manner, however general, a very profitable season for this No. 20 staff and Joe Gibbs Racing. I used to be proud to be behind the wheel of this automotive all 12 months. Seven wins is so much to be happy with.
“One race doesn’t outline us as a gaggle. In case you win, you come out because the champion. That’s what we advised ourselves all week and it nearly occurred.”
Saturday might have been Nemechek’s final likelihood at a Xfinity title.
He’ll return to full-time competitors within the Cup Collection subsequent season and drive the No. 42 Toyota for Legacy Motor Membership subsequent season as a teammate to Erik Jones.
Requested if he was pissed off to the disappointing finish to a seven-win season, Nemechek stated, “I’m nonetheless smiling. It’s irritating to finish the championship run that approach to not come out the champion once we felt like we had been one of the best automotive all 12 months.
“Seven wins is nothing to hold your head over. We received a variety of races this 12 months, we led a variety of laps and had a very good common end. General, only a actually stable 12 months.”
