Although he battled Austin Hill vigorously for the Regular Season Championship, John Hunter Nemechek will still start the Playoffs ranked atop the leader board courtesy of his series-best six victories in 2023. Even with his position leading the series to start the Playoff run, the 32-year-old North Carolinian refuses to consider himself an odds-on favorite for his first major racing title.
Legacy Motor Club announced last week that Nemechek will drive the No. 42 Toyota for that team next year in the NASCAR Cup Series – a huge opportunity for the well-tested driver. He’d like to take a Xfinity Series championship with him to the new team.
“To be honest, I think it’s just noise to us,” said Nemechek, who led a dominating 154 of the 200 laps in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in last week’s regular season finale at Kansas Speedway.
“We’re not really focused on being the favorite or not being the favorite. We’re focused on just running every race like we know how to do and to go out and race every single race track, every single week and put some emphasis on trying to win, but also having good weeks and not letting bad weeks affect your Playoff run.
“I don’t think the standpoint of being a favorite or not being a favorite really affects us or the mental side of things.”
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