John Hunter Nemechek is all smiles about his 2023 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Following two successful seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, John Hunter Nemechek graduated to the NASCAR XFINITY Series with swagger and style.
The 26-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina native is enjoying a dream season with six wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s and two poles. Although Austin Hill captured the regular season championship, Nemechek’s plentiful victories propelled him to the points lead for the Round of 12.
Prior to Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the second generation racer has been widely acclaimed as the odds on favorite. Seldomly showing any vulnerabilities this year, the driver of the No. 20 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Supra, prepared by Joe Gibbs Racing, may seem like a shoe-in for Phoenix.
Then again, in Nemechek’s perspective, it is not going to be a cakewalk from Bristol, Tennessee to the Championship 4 race in Avondale, Arizona.
Instead, the title contender knows it is about taking things one race at a time.
“We’re not focused on being the favorite to win the championship or not,” he said. “We’re focused on running every race how we do and going out and race every single racetrack every single week.
“Putting an emphasis on trying to win, but also coming out with good weeks to not let bad ones affect your playoff run. I don’t think the standpoint of being a favorite or not really affects us or the mental side of things.”
This disciplined mindset has been key to Nemechek’s stellar season. He has not been quick to anger or overly jubilant to cloud his judgment and approach on the track.
On six occasions, John Hunter Nemechek has burned down the house. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
Paired with crew chief Ben Beshore, Nemechek has meshed quickly with the experienced Gibbs team leader. All things considered, in the past 10 races, Nemechek only had four hiccups in a stretch with four wins, a third and sixth place finish.
If Nemechek wants to map out a smooth route to the Championship 4, he knows he has to improve at the circuits with winding roads.
Namely, the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, the cutoff race for the Round of 12, stands out in his mind.
“Just execute,” he said. “Road courses haven’t been our greatest strength, but they’re not our worst race tracks. We’ve had some really good runs and some not so great runs, but execution. Not beating ourselves, not getting ahead of ourselves, and staying in contention every single week.”
All season long, Nemechek has been a consistent presence toward the front of the field. Primarily, he has been sensational on the intermediates and 2-mile superspeedways.
Along the same lines, Nemechek attributes his successes to a supportive, driven OEM that rejuvenated his stock car career in 2021.
“Toyota has been a huge part of my career over the last three years,” he said. “I actually started my NASCAR career in a Toyota Tundra. So pretty cool to come full circle and be back in the camp.
“I trust Toyota TRD and what we were trying to accomplish, where our goals were headed. And I thank them for believing in me and being a huge part of my career so far and looking forward to continuing that for years to come.”
Much like his father, Joe, the 1992 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, he has a knack for qualifying toward the front with an average starting position of 6.4. Qualifying toward the front of the field means better pit stall selection and creating advantages that a midfield or mediocre effort affords.
More times than not, if Nemechek qualifies inside the top 10, he has a solid chance to battle for the win. Now, he has the opportunity to create history if he wins the championship.
Perhaps John Hunter Nemechek may raise his arms in victory as he did last Saturday at Kansas Speedway. (Photo: Cole Penning | The Podium Finish)
Established in 1982, there has yet to be a father-son duo that have won the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship. While Nemechek approaches each race one at a time, the prospect piques his curiosity.
“I didn’t know we’d be the first, but that’s a super cool stat,” Nemechek said. “It’s neat to see the father-son drivers that have been able to race against each other or at the same level throughout their careers.
“For me, to win an XFINITY Series championship would mean a lot, and to be the first father-son duo to accomplish that would be special. Hopefully we can do it. That’s what we’re here for.”
Editor’s Notes
Brooklyn Jackson contributed to this feature during a media availability last weekend at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.
