John Hunter Nemechek hopes to let the good times roll in Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta after a top five finish in the 67th DAYTONA 500. (Photo: Hayden Hutchison | The Podium Finish)
HAMPTON, Ga. — Typically, analyzing trends and statistics can serve as a solid harbinger for the next race like Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In John Hunter Nemechek‘s case, it is about the here and now, not about before.
For the driver involved in the most accidents last year in the NASCAR Cup Series, Nemechek is making a strong case as most improved driver in 2025 — well, only one race in. Last Sunday evening, Nemechek officially started 18th, kept out of trouble and placed fifth in the 67th DAYTONA 500.
Perhaps more of the same will happen for the driver of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE fielded by LEGACY Motor Club. Prior to qualifying 22nd for Sunday’s race, Nemechek considered the uniqueness of this 1.54-mile Atlanta track.
“Atlanta Motor Speedway is unlike any other superspeedway we race on in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Nemechek said in a team press release. “The track races like a hybrid between a traditional superspeedway and an intermediate track, with tight, fast-paced pack racing. You have to be aggressive to put yourself in the right position to go forward.”
The 27-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native has not scored stage points or a top 10 finish at the refit Atlanta since his return to full-time Cup competition in 2024. Nemechek tallied finishes of 21st and 33rd, a microcosm of a frustrating season with the fledgling Toyota GAZOO Racing team.
Like the name of an S.E. Hinton novel in 1971, Nemechek and his team could make a compelling case of “That Was Then, This Is Now.” A fifth place in “The Great American Race” was backed up by team owner Jimmie Johnson’s third place result, his best finish in the crown jewel race since his 2013 victory.
John Hunter Nemechek may be a factor in Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
It is not a fluke thus far to see LEGACY Motor Club making strides with their program given the team’s sweeping changes. Likewise, Nemechek has a sporty crew chief in Ben Beshore who understands the nuances of Cup racing from his tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing.
For Behsore, it is a crew chief’s dream in terms of preparing the car and the different strategies he can deploy at any given moment of a race at Atlanta.
“I’ve always loved speedway racing, but combine that with Atlanta, where there’s a little more grip, strategy, and handling involved, all of that has really allowed me to enjoy Atlanta,” Beshore said. “[Atlanta] creates a big opportunity for us, with the top five at Daytona, I feel Atlanta will play into our wheelhouse a little better, as the car is a little more draggy but has a little more downforce, so I feel our car should run even better at Atlanta.”
Speed may be one of the first traits that drivers purse with contending at the superspeedways but those thinking the long haul like Nemechek want their cars to handle well. Between qualifying and race day, drivers and crew chiefs, along with their teams, confer on how to maximize the most out of their mounts before a Sunday soiree at the Georgia speed arena.
“Handling plays a much bigger role [at Atlanta] compared to Daytona or Talladega,” Nemechek observed. “At Atlanta, the runs are more pronounced, which feels different than a place like Daytona or Talladega.”
Like Daytona, the surface of Atlanta has aged so progressively that a car that handles well may be all the difference against a car that possessed raw speed in qualifying but lack the maneuverability on race day.
For that, Nemechek cannot wait to see how he and his team have progressed since last year with the second round of a long Cup season.
“I am excited to get back to Atlanta and continue the momentum that we have as an organization and showcase all the hard work that has gone into LEGACY MC during the off-season,” Nemechek said.
