Can John Hunter Nemechek Climb Up to Become a Part of JGR for 2022?

Published 10/09/2021, 9:38 AM EDT

The 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series grid could soon have a number of interesting partnerships. The latest one is Kyle Busch Motorsports driver John Hunter Nemechek. At the end of the 2020 Cup Series season, he elected to part ways with Front Row Motorsports and move to the Truck Series with KBM.

Needless to say, things paid off handsomely, as he has five wins under his belt in 2021. To make matters even better, Nemechek has established himself as one of the championship favorites. Furthermore, his efforts are being noticed, as the Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity team were the first ones to hit speed-dial.

Last weekend at the Talladega Superspeedway, Nemechek pulled double duty in the Truck and Xfinity Series. To be exact, the JGR team handed him a one-off ride in the #54 Toyota. At first glance, the move seemed a bit odd, but it now seems a little clear that the move was merely an audition.

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Why is this a brilliant move for John Hunter Nemechek?

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On one hand, a Cup Series stint is the pinnacle of stock car racing, but the downside is that he would be in a smaller team. Meanwhile, if he goes to the Xfinity Series, his career could face an upward trajectory, with more chances of success. So, with a Toyota Racing Development reunion, he can add more wins to his resume. This could, in turn, improve his chances of getting a better Cup prospect.

With Harrison Burton graduating to the Cup Series next year, Nemechek will likely take over the #20 Toyota seat. In the process, he could get one step closer to a Cup Series return in the future. Without a doubt, his Truck Series prowess will come a long way in helping him earn a top-tier Xfinity Series ride.

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As a bonus, John Hunter Nemechek will remain in the TRD camp, and they can aid him in advancing his future. For now, the driver will be aiming to gun for a Truck Series championship this year. From there, the 24-year-old can only move upwards in his budding career.

John Hunter Nemechek Forced to Delay Xfinity Series Run in #54 Car

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.