2018 RCR Driver Lineup: NASCAR Xfinity Series
With five races remaining in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series season plans are well under way for 2018, which will mark RCR’s 49th season in NASCAR.
On Thursday, RCR announced a familiar face will return next season while adding a new driver to its XFINITY Series lineup.
Daniel Hemric has re-signed to pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro after a strong showing in 2017. Hemric is currently in the XFINITY Series Playoffs and is in position to advance to the Round of 8 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Through the first 26 regular season races, Hemric earned five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes, one pole award, two stage wins, led 70 laps and earned the XFINITY Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“It is always a special time when you can re-sign with a team like Richard Childress Racing that has done so much in our sport,” said Hemric.
“I’ve learned a lot from Richard both about racing and life in general, many lessons that I will never forget,” Hemric said. “While we still are contending for the XFINITY Series championship this year, and have unfinished business in the final five races, I’m fortunate that I will again be running for the Series championship in 2018 with RCR and Richard in my corner.”
Along with Hemric, RCR has signed current XFINITY Series driver Matt Tifft to its driver lineup for 2018 on a multi-year agreement. Tifft is in his rookie season for Joe Gibbs Racing and is currently a Playoff contender for the driver championship.
Tifft, 21, grew up driving dirt late models before racing his way up through the ranks of NASCAR. He competed in the K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as well as the ARCA Racing Series.
Tifft will drive the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro. Crew chiefs and sponsorship for both Hemric and Tifft will be announced at a later date.
“I am very appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to race for a championship and grow as a driver under one the most successful and historic teams in NASCAR,” said Tifft.
He continued, “RCR has a long history of developing partnerships through its XFINITY Series program. I am looking forward to being a part of the family and applying what I have learned in my first full-time XFINITY Series season while continuing to grow with the goal of competing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the future.”
