NEMCO Motorsports scored six victories with Nemechek behind the wheel and he readily admits it’s been a learning process to focus solely on his role as driver as his career has progressed.
He also had a successful run in late models with NEMCO, with wins in the All-American 400 at the Nashville Fairgrounds and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., to his credit.
Even through his time driving for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Xfinity Series (where he scored one win) and in the Cup ranks, Nemechek still made occasional starts in NEMCO trucks.
At only 24 years old, Nemechek is a veteran of the series and has watched it change during the last handful of years, in particular in the level of aggression as the average age of the competitors has dipped ever lower.
“I do think that there are times where it shouldn’t necessarily be raced like that, you have to have more respect for others around you and your equipment,” Nemechek said. “I mean I was young once and I made mistakes, but I had guys like Ron Hornaday, Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter that would kind of come up to you and almost grab you around the neck and explain the situation to you.
“And you didn’t do that again. You learned from it, you learned to respect those guys and what they had to say, and their experience,” Nemechek continued. “We don’t have a ton of that right now in the Truck Series with as many young guys coming in. So, times have definitely changed.”
His crew chief, Eric Phillips, has seen many of the incarnations of the Truck Series and is a valuable leader. He is the all-time winningest crew chief on the circuit. Plus, he is Nemechek’s uncle. Phillips has played a role in the Nemechek racing family for many years, having also worked for John Hunter’s late uncle, John.
John Hunter never knew his uncle, who perished in a Truck Series crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1997. He says his grandparents have told him that he reminds them of his uncle in a variety of ways. In addition, his family team has long carried on the legacy of John’s No. 8.
John Hunter Nemechek has a family of his own now, too. He and wife Taylor had their first daughter, Aspen, in the spring. Her maiden trip to the race track resulted in a visit to Richmond (Va.) Raceway’s victory lane when she was just a week-and-a-half old. Traveling with his wife and daughter has been one of the highlights of Nemechek’s year.
He acknowledges being a father has changed his perspective.
“She doesn’t know any better, right?” Nemechek said of Aspen’s influence. “When she smiles it will put a smile on your face if you have a bad day or whatever it may be.”
Nemechek has won at nearly every level of the sport but has his eye on someday returning to the Cup Series. He wants to contend for race wins and championships in whatever racing series suits him best. Knowing what he does now, he also plans to carefully vet each opportunity that comes his way. He’s driven a Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing and Sam Hunt Racing in multiple Xfinity Series races this season, perhaps a glimpse into his future.
But for now, Nemechek simply remains committed to growth.
“My motto is one percent better every single day,” he said. “And if you can do that, you’re going to be pretty dang good in the end.”