Kannapolis, North Carolina, native will bring back the iconic number for his Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign with support from Caterpillar, Bass Pro Shops, Liberty National Life Insurance, Cessna and VF Workwear in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
WELCOME, N.C. (December 14, 2018) – Daniel Hemric will carry a familiar number for his rookie season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The 27-year-old will continue the long tradition of Kannapolis, North Carolina, natives who have driven the No. 8 on the racetrack.
Hemric made his MENCS debut during the 2018 season running the No. 8 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet at Richmond Raceway in April and Charlotte Motor Speedway in September. Now, as he prepares for his first season in the MENCS, Hemric is ready to carry the number full time.
During the 1950s, Ralph Earnhardt began his family’s racing legacy on the short tracks around North Carolina driving the No. 8. When his son, Dale Earnhardt, made his first NASCAR start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975, it was with the No. 8 on the side of the car. When it came time for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to begin his career in the NASCAR Cup Series, he did so driving a No. 8 Chevrolet that would become iconic to NASCAR fans and non-fans alike.
“Growing up in Kannapolis, it was all about racing,” said Hemric. “I always dreamed of having the opportunity to drive for RCR and for Richard himself. Now, two iconic numbers, the 3 and the 8, are going to be under one roof. I know it makes Richard happier than anybody, just understanding what that means for the sport of NASCAR and how our fans are going to be able to connect with that.”
With RCR celebrating its 50th anniversary during the 2019 season, Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR, understands the meaning of bringing the No. 8 back to the sport and teaming it with the No. 3 Chevrolet. Childress also noted this style of number is utilized across the board in numerous professional sports and felt it was time to bring it to NASCAR.
“Car numbers are a big part of NASCAR and it makes me proud to have two of the most historic numbers under the RCR banner for our 50th anniversary season,” said Childress. “With his Kannapolis roots and his old-school racer mentality, Daniel Hemric is the perfect choice to bring the No. 8 back to the Cup Series on a full-time basis. He has demonstrated that he has what it takes to be a contender on the racetrack, and we are looking forward to the next step in his career. We have a lot of longstanding partners supporting this program and we’re proud to carry each of their colors on the No. 8 Chevrolet throughout the year. I also want to welcome Cessna to the RCR family of partners.”
Hemric and the No. 8 team will have support from multiple primary partners throughout the 2019 MENCS season, including Caterpillar, Bass Pro Shops, Liberty National Life Insurance and VF Workwear, all of whom return to Richard Childress Racing. Textron Aviation’s Cessna brand also joins RCR and the No. 8 program for 2019, with select primary races during the season.
Hemric’s MENCS rookie campaign will kick off with the 61st running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17, where he will drive a special gold-colored No. 8 Bass Pro Shops/Caterpillar Chevrolet to honor RCR’s 50th anniversary season.
Entering its 11th year with RCR, Caterpillar will serve as the primary partner on Hemric’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for multiple races during his rookie season. The relationship between Caterpillar and RCR began with the 2009 season and has been growing stronger ever since.
The world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives began as a sponsor in NASCAR in 1993. Caterpillar was a team sponsor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 1995 to 1996 before moving to the MENCS in 1997.
Bass Pro Shops will also return to RCR for the 2019 season as an anchor partner on the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, along with a yearlong presence with the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and driver Austin Dillon. This will mark the first season Bass Pro Shops will work with Hemric, but this longstanding relationship with RCR dates back to 1998 when it first appeared on the No. 3 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt in the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Bass Pro Shops, founded in 1972 by avid young angler Johnny Morris, provides unmatched offerings spanning destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class destinations and more.
Liberty National Life Insurance returns for its second season with RCR, which was announced in October 2018. Liberty National will also serve as a primary partner on Hemric’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for select events during the 2019 season.
A leading provider of life and supplemental health insurance for middle-income Americans through in-home and workplace sales, Liberty National is looking to build upon its successful LNL Racing marketing campaign by expanding its engagement opportunities with its independent sales Agents, independent agency owners, and policyholders throughout the United States.
Cessna joins RCR this season for the first time as a partner on the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. RCR previously enjoyed a relationship with Textron Specialized Vehicles, a sister division to Textron Aviation, since 2011. VF Workwear’s involvement with Hemric’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the continuation of a partnership with RCR that dates to 2012.
“To have the support and backing from partners such as Caterpillar, Bass Pro Shops, Liberty National Life Insurance, Cessna and VF Workwear means the world to me,” said Hemric. “Each one is a world-class organization that is dedicated to producing the best products and services with a commitment to excellence. Our goals at RCR are to do the same, and we hope to deliver strong results and represent each of them to our highest ability on this No. 8 team throughout the year.”
During the 2019 season, Hemric’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team will be led by crew chief Luke Lambert. Entering his eighth season as a MENCS crew chief at RCR, Lambert has earned one win, 23 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes atop the pit box.
About Richard Childress Racing:Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR celebrates 50 years of racing in 2019 and has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2019 Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion, 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/American Ethanol/AAA/Symbicort/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) along with Rookie of the Year contender Daniel Hemric (No. 8 Caterpillar/ Bass Pro Shops/Liberty National Chevrolet/Cessna/VF Workwear). Its Xfinity Series program includes defending Series Champion Tyler Reddick.
About Caterpillar:For more than 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2017 sales and revenues of $45.462 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.
About Bass Pro Shops:Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”
About Liberty National:Liberty National is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK) and headquartered in McKinney, Texas. Torchmark’s other insurance subsidiaries include American Income Life, Globe Life, United American, and Family Heritage Life. Visit http://libertynational.com to learn more about the company.
About Cessna:Cessna’s line of Citation jets, Caravan turboprops and classic piston aircraft dominate the sky. From learning to fly to flying your business, you’ll find your aircraft solution at Cessna.
About VF Workwear:For many years, VF’s Workwear brands have been part of the company’s global portfolio, but only recently has VF created a new organization focused on leveraging the workwear brand portfolio. In 2016, the brands – Wrangler Riggs®, Timberland PRO®, Red Kap®, Bulwark FR®, Horace Small® and others – represented approximately $800 million in revenue for VF. Combined they currently account for less than ten percent of the market share, but VF leaders believe that by leveraging the VF workwear brand portfolio and unique capabilities we can grow our share.
