Jimmie Johnson claims John Hunter Nemechek is ‘way ahead’ of where he was at 25

LMC will be Nemechek's third team in the last four years.

Jimmie Johnson claims John Hunter Nemechek is ‘way ahead’ of where he was at 25

John Hunter Nemechek and Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

Legacy Motor Club has finally found Noah Gragson’s replacement after the team let him go due to his controversy around liking a meme that involved George Floyd. 26-year-old John Hunter Nemechek is the new headline name after LMC announced that he will drive the No:42 Toyota for the team. LMC co-owner Jimmie Johnson had nothing but praise for Nemechek speaking to Dirty Mo Media.

Nemechek’s impressive performance in the Xfinity series surely sent shockwaves to LMC as he will be attempting his second stint in the Cup Series with the team. Johnson claimed that Nemechek displays an extraordinary amount of maturity for a driver his age. Johnson also compared Nemechek to himself when he was 25, saying that Nemechek is a much better driver than he was back then.

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 “I think it’s pretty rare, and that’s what I am really impressed with. The people he’s surrounded himself with, the business mindset that they all have. And you combine that with what he’s doing behind the wheel. He’s way ahead of where I was at 25,” Johnson told Dirty Mo Media.

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Nemechek is racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series, driving the No: 20 Toyota Supra. Currently ranked second, Nemechek will surely be looking to exit the series as a champion, as he holds a very strong position just before the playoffs.

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How John Hunter Nemechek ended up joining Legacy Motor Club

John Hunter Nemechek
John Hunter Nemechek (Credits: NASCAR.com)

A new signing for Legacy Motor Club had become long overdue after the team suspended Noah Gragson following his liking a meme on social media about Goerge Floyd. The situation turned even more complex after Gragson asked to be relieved of his contract with the team while simultaneously he was also suspended by NASCAR.

Nemechek’s probable choice would have been to retain his seat with JGR. Earlier, Martin Truex Jr. would retire at the end of the 2023 season, leaving a spot open in JGR, which would have most likely gone to Nemechek. However, a mid-season change in the mindset of Truex Jr. led to Nemechek looking for other options.

LMC co-owner Jimmie Johnson explained, “The first domino to really move was Martin’s commitment to stay at Joe Gibbs Racing. At that point, we still had plenty of hurdles to clear to get it done. But in my opinion, things moved really quickly.”

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