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Guantanamo Bay will be Nemechek's Post-Race Destination
Unlike his racing buddies, Joe Nemechek’s weekend duties will not end with Saturday night's Nextel Cup event at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte.
While Nemechek will be decked out in different colors for the Bank of America 500, driving the No. 01 CENTRIX Financial Chevrolet for MB2 Motorsports, it won't take him long to return to military mode as the driver of the U.S Army NASCAR entry.
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Early Sunday morning, Nemechek and a small entourage -- including his mother Martha Nemechek -- will jet to Guantanamo Bay to visit troops on behalf of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Since Nemechek knows firsthand how enthusiastic the troops are about NASCAR racing, he would like nothing better than to arrive in Guantanamo Bay with a strong result from Saturday night's race.
"One thing I learned driving the Army car is that the troops -- no matter where they're stationed -- they follow NASCAR," said Nemechek. "In many countries, they're up in the middle of the night watching the race. I am sure the NASCAR excitement will be the same in Guantanamo Bay.”
“It's always more upbeat to meet the troops following a strong performance,” Nemechek added. “I am looking forward to the trip and receiving another good dose of what dedication and spirit are all about."
Speaking of strong performances, Nemechek has had his share at Lowe's Motor Speedway. In three of his last four races at the 1.5-mile oval, he nearly pulled off a victory.
In the 2004 fall race, he led late in the race and ended up finishing fifth. And in both 2005 races at Lowe’s, Nemechek came close to winning each event. With eight laps remaining in the spring race -- Coca-Cola 600 – Nemechek was cruising with a comfortable lead until a flat tire cost him a trip to Victory Lane.
And in last year’s fall race, Nemechek was leading until Jimmie Johnson passed him with 12 laps to go. Nemechek finished fourth and left the Lowe’s facility only 17 points out of 11th place in the driver point standings.
“We’ve come so close at Lowe’s,” said Nemechek. “Each year and each race are always different there, but no matter what is different, I always seem to feel very comfortable. It’s hard not to think about the what ifs we had there. The only thing that would help to erase those memories is to take a trip to Victory Lane Saturday night.”
The Army team would also love that scenario as would all of the troops waiting for Nemechek’s arrival Sunday in Guantanamo Bay.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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