Released Nemechek Hopes for New Ride
Joe Nemechek may be down, but don't count him out just yet.
"I've definitely had better days," said Nemechek on Wednesday, following his release from Ginn Racing late Tuesday, where he drove the No. 13 Ginn Racing Chevrolet.
Nemechek's release wasn't altogether unexpected. The team has struggled to secure sponsorship all season. Nemechek, 43, hasn't posted a top-10 finish since the season opener at Daytona, where he finished ninth, and has only three top-15 finishes this season. He's is 33rd in the driver point standings.
"You definitely see it coming, but you don't want it to happen," Nemechek said. "It takes so much money to keep one of these Cup teams running and we just did not get the sponsorship."
Ginn Racing released Nemechek and teammate Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 14 Waste Management Chevrolet.
"We appreciate everything that Joe and Sterling have done for us," said Ginn Racing CEO and general manager Jay Frye. "They have been a class act."
Nemechek doesn't expect to be out of work for very long.
"The best I can say is there's a lot of things going on out there. Silly season is definitely in full swing," Nemechek said. "I will probably end up going to some of these races in the near future and probably end up in a car here pretty soon."
Nemechek seemed confident that his racing credentials would land him another Nextel Cup ride. Nemechek has four wins and nine poles in Nextel Cup competition. He was also the 1992 Busch Series champion and 1990 Busch Series Rookie of the Year.
"I still definitely want to be driving in the Cup Series. I know I can still win races," Nemechek said. "I know what I'm capable of doing and I know the NASCAR family out there, the team is very close and they know who can get the job done and who can't."
Nemechek even hinted that, while he is free to explore his options, there is a possibility that he could end up back at Ginn Racing.
"I think all the options are open," Nemechek said. "If the right thing happens and we get some more sponsor dollars, I don't know whether it would be that car or something else."
He also said that he was open to talking to all race teams, not just those fielding Chevrolets, which Nemechek has mostly driven.
"In this deal, you have to have your options completely open," Nemechk said. "I've been a very loyal GM (General Motors) driver for a lot of years, and would like to continue to, but if that doesn't work, I'll do whatever I have to, to keep on racing."
Despite Nemechek's Cup status, he's also working diligently to field a full-time Busch Series entry for NEMCO Motorsports, his own race team.
"There's a lot of stuff in the works and hopefully my Busch team gets up and going," Nemechek said. "We've been working on that really hard this year. I think we're getting closer to getting some sponsorship dollars there to run."
As for Nemechek's former ride, the fate of the No. 13 remains uncertain.
"The No. 13 is idle right now," said David Ferroni, part of the Ginn Racing Public Relations team. "It could resurface. As far as I know, the No. 13 personnel are still there, including the crew chief. I do know that R&D (research and development) is critical right now and some of the No. 13 crew and crew chief are working on that."
Ginn Racing moved Regan Smith, formerly the co-driver of the No. 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet, to the No. 14 entry. Ginn Racing also signed Joe Gibbs Racing Busch Series driver Aric Almirola, of Tampa, to take over for Smith and share the driving duties of the No. 01 with NASCAR veteran Mark Martin.
During his Nextel Cup tenure, Nemechek has driven for Ginn Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Haas-Carter Motorsports, Andy Petree, Felix Sabates, Larry Hedrick and Morgan-McClure Motorsports, as well as for his own team.
"Good things will happen soon," Nemechek said, keeping the optimism he's shown throughout his career.
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