(Photo: Erik Smith | The Podium Finish)
After running a full-time Cup Series season with Front Row Motorsports in 2020, John Hunter Nemechek decided to take a step back. He signed with Toyota Racing Development and Kyle Busch Motorsports to chase victories and revive his career.
Two years later, he’s done that. While he doesn’t have a championship to show for it, Nemechek is onto the next phase of his career rebuild. He’s behind the wheel of the No. 20 NASCAR Xfinity Series car for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Through 10 races, the transition has been seamless. Nemechek has two victories and sits second in driver’s points, just four behind Austin Hill for the lead.
“It hasn’t been a full out of touch trying to get back into it,” Nemechek told The Podium Finish. “Proud of where we’re at as a team on the 20 team, and how easy I feel like it has been for me to hop back in these racecars and continue to be fast every single week.”
When Kyle Busch announced his switch to Chevrolet and Richard Childress Racing, Nemechek had no option but to move on from KBM or switch manufacturers himself. With the departure of Brandon Jones to JR Motorsports and the promotion of Ty Gibbs to the Cup Series, a seat became vacant for Nemechek at JGR.
In addition to several races with Sam Hunt Racing, Nemechek did three races for JGR in each of the last two seasons. He won the fall Texas Motor Speedway race in 2021 and finished second at Richmond Raceway in 2022.
“It’s definitely a special experience being able to drive for JGR and be a part of the organization, a great family and being able to work alongside some great internal key employees,” Nemechek said. “Being able to have Coach [Joe Gibbs] be there at the racetrack and shop and be able to lean on him and ask him questions.”
Nemechek nearly won the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway in February after Sam Mayer flipped upside down on the backstretch. NASCAR reviewed the footage of the final lap, and at the time of the caution, Austin Hill led by mere feet and took home the victory instead.
A week later, Nemechek avenged his defeat. He outdueled Mayer and Justin Allgaier in a 12-lap shootout for his third career series victory.
“It’s important to win early, for sure, just trying to get locked into the Playoffs and trying to build momentum for the year,” Nemechek said. “Being able to have some really good runs and finally get a win underneath your belt is a huge accomplishment and being able to kind of take that and push through the year and carry that momentum with you is big.”
(Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)
Six races later, Nemechek did it again but in dominating fashion. He led nearly 80% of the laps to win at Martinsville Speedway and take home a grandfather clock.
The theme, however, has been consistency. Nemechek has finished in the top 10 in all but two races and has five top fives. He’s led laps in seven of 10 races and has just one DNF — a crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
The key, Nemechek said, is execution.
“Just being able to go out and execute and run up front and put yourself in a position to try and win these races,” Nemechek said. “I think that’s been our key to just going out and doing our thing. I feel like we’re fast enough to win almost every single week — we just can’t beat ourselves.
“Having a great team around you definitely gives you the confidence in knowing that when you show up to the racetrack, you’re going to have a fast piece. You just need to perform and do your job like the guys on the team are doing theirs and everyone back in the shop.”
JGR tasked Ben Beshore with crew chief duties for the No. 20 team in 2023. Beshore spent the last two seasons calling shots for Kyle Busch but traded places with Chris Gayle when Ty Gibbs got tasked to drive in the Cup Series.
While just 42 years old, Beshore has three Cup victories and veteran experience, which Nemechek said is helpful.
(Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
“It’s been a growing relationship with Ben, being able to talk to him quite a bit last year being around [Busch] on the Cup side. Didn’t even know that this is where it was going to go,” Nemechek said. “Being able to create that relationship with him over the off-season, gain trust in one another and know that each of us are going to do our jobs to the full potential gives each other confidence in what we’re doing and what we’re pushing toward.”
While the Xfinity Series Championship is the end goal, Nemechek has milestones that he’d like to check off along the way. One of his priorities is to win the regular-season championship, which pays out an additional 15 Playoff points.
However, the top priority is the task at hand each week. Nemechek wants to take things one race at a time while still thinking big picture in the back of his mind.
“We have to maximize every weekend to try and get the bonus in the Playoff points for the regular-season championship,” Nemechek said. “The big championship that we’re focused on is come Phoenix. The regular season championship can only just help get you there.
“We want to do it by going out and winning races every single week.”
The series stops at Darlington Raceway this weekend before its second time off in three weeks.
