By Michael Heilman

Daniel Hemric will return to the Xfinity Series next year, driving part-time for JR Motorsports. Hemric, who is finishing up his rookie year in the Monster Energy Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, will be replaced by Tyler Reddick next year. This year, Hemric has one pole, one top-five, and two top-ten finishes with Richard Childress Racing.

JR Motorsports announced that Hemric will drive the No. 8 car in twenty-one races next year while Jeb Burton will run eleven races, and Dale Earnhardt will race one.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Hemric joining JR Motorsports saying, “He’ll be a quality addition to our lineup in 2020. We’re lucky to have him. I feel like he has grown as a driver from his time in the Cup Series. That will be valuable to him with this new opportunity to compete in the Xfinity Series. He’s a local Kannapolis (N.C.) native with a lot of determination to succeed, and I’m excited to work with him.”

Daniel Hemric expressed his gratitude for joining JR Motorsports, saying, “I want to thank Dale, Kelley (Earnhardt Miller) and everyone at JR Motorsports for believing in me,” Hemric said in a team release. “For a Kannapolis (N.C.) boy like me, driving for the Earnhardt family is pretty awesome. My goal here is simple — to go win races for JR Motorsports and to help their program any way that I can. I’ve raced against their cars before, and I know how they’re capable of running. My focus is on finishing the Cup season out strong, but once the checkered flag flies at Homestead, we’ll set our sights on getting the No. 8 car to Victory Lane early and often next season.”

Hemric raced two years in the Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing in 2017 and 2018. He made fifty-two career starts with five poles, twenty-three top-five finishes, and thirty-nine top ten finishes. His average starting positions were seventh in 2017 and eighth in 2018. His averages finishes were thirteen in 2017 and ninth in 2018.

Hemric will conclude his stint in the Monster Energy Cup Series this weekend when NASCAR goes to Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday at 3 pm on NBC.