No driver within the historical past of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Collection has began extra races than Kenny Wallace, who made 547 begins in NASCAR’s second-tier collection.
However 41-year-old Jeremy Clements, a blast-from-the-past owner-driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina, will tie Wallace’s report at Pocono Raceway on Saturday and break it with begin 548 subsequent week at Naval Base Coronado.
Clements made his collection debut again in 2003, two years after Wallace’s ninth and closing collection win at Rockingham in 2001. Clements did not contest a full NOAPS season till 2011, however he is since turn into one of many collection’ mainstays.
Jeremy Clements displays
“It is unimaginable,” Clements stated Friday at Pocono. “Did not begin racing on this collection to get that, however now that we’re right here it is fairly cool.”
Since his rookie marketing campaign in 2011, Clements has pushed his No. 51 Chevrolet for the aptly named Jeremy Clements Racing. In an period of NASCAR filled with big-time groups with deep pockets owned by larger-than-life people, Clements is a throwback to a bygone period.
“Though we’re a small group, we work exhausting, and we do not surrender,” Clements stated. “To nonetheless be racing and loving what I get to do each week, it certain is a blessing.”
Whereas issues definitely have not been simple over time for Clements and his No. 51 group, there have been a number of shining moments. Clements has two victories to his credit score: his first profession victory at Highway America in 2017 and one at Daytona in 2022. He made the O’Reilly Collection playoffs thrice and has been a mannequin of consistency for a driver working with lesser tools, by no means ending outdoors of the top-21 within the standings in his 15 full-time seasons.
“I am 41 now,” Clements stated. “Kenny was 51 [when he made his last start]. I do know I can nonetheless go a very long time. Hope I can simply make [the record] the place it is unbreakable.”
Even in a down season for the veteran driver — Clements is nineteenth within the standings by way of 16 races — his ardour for the game of NASCAR racing hasn’t left him with any need to bow out of the collection any time quickly.
“I simply love racing,” Clements stated. “I’ve all the time cherished it since I used to be a child. It is only a job I do not take with no consideration. I assume once I do lose the half that makes it enjoyable I’d look within the mirror and say, ‘It is perhaps time to cease.’ But it surely hasn’t occurred but, [hasn’t] even gotten shut.
“After all, there’s a number of ups and downs on this sport. Every week’s a rollercoaster. However should you nonetheless find it irresistible, you retain doing it.”
Quotes supplied by NASCAR Media.
