There are just two differences between the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series playoffs. The former one has an entire round more than the latter and four additional drivers make it into the postseason. Hence, one could expect the fight to be more severe in the minor series than in the major. On that note, what if someone claims that the NASCAR Xfinity Series is more of a madhouse than the Cup Series is?

Cup series or Xfinity Series, Joe Gibbs Racing driver John Hunter Nemechek has earned a name in both. He was a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender in 2020, his first full season in the Cup Series. But perhaps Nemechek’s achievements are greater in the latter. Since bagging his first Xfinity win at Kansas Speedway in 2018, he hasn’t looked back. As of today, he flaunts 9 career Xfinity Series wins with the most recent one coming at Texas Motor Speedway. However, an HMS veteran sent out a disheartening reality check on the 26-year-old speedster that might have tasted sour to JHM and his fans.

Hendrick Motorsports icon makes a 7-word claim against Nemechek’s talent

As the curtains to a recent episode of the Dirty Mo Media parted, Steve Letarte sat down with Chopper and the others to analyze how well each driver could fare in the upcoming races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As the Championship 4 race inches closer and closer, this discussion, needless to say, was unavoidable. And so was John Hunter Nemechek’s name.

This young man has been appearing consistently in the top 10 since the Darlington Raceway race last month, with 5 top-5s. Moreover, he has won twice in these 6 races since Darlington. Despite his remarkable feats in the Xfinity, Letarte somehow disagreed to give him the flowers on the Cup Series side of things.

For those who haven’t heard yet, besides driving in Saturday’s Contender Boats 250, Nemechek is expected to drive the #42 Legacy Motorclub machine on Sunday as well. When Chopper predicted that he would finish 15th in the penultimate race of the round of 8, Steve Letarte couldn’t agree more.

“I think 15th is good,” said Dale Junior‘s former crew chief, “The reason I say that is because we can’t get him inside a top 10 bet. I can’t get him inside the top 10. I’m sorry.”

Steve Letarte felt that if John Hunter Nemechek ran with drivers like Corey LaJoie, Justin Haley, or Chase Briscoe in the surrounding traffic, it would probably be Nemechek who would clear all of them.

“If you have JHM against any of the guys around him and the predictor… Gilliland, Dillon, Cindric, LaJoie, Haley, Briscoe, Preece, I would probably take JHM,” he added.

Watch this story: NASCAR Fans Accuse Rick Hendrick of Paying Off NASCAR Officials After His Driver Avoids Penalty

Only time will prove Letarte wrong or right. However, for John Hunter Nemechek, Sunday’s race will be special and unusual at the same time. And that too for a unique reason.

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Sunday’s Cup start should provide John Hunter Nemechek with the experience that he would need to step up to the full-time Cup Series deal that he has signed with Legacy MC for 2024, driving their #42 car. But the car he will drive is a Chevrolet and not a Toyota. Confusing, right? Nemechek is Toyota’s top prospect today. So why Chevrolet?

According to Legacy Motorclub’s announcement on Monday, Nemechek will drive the Sunseeker Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for LMC. While it might appear unusual for a Toyota driver to drive for a rival manufacturer, even for a single race and in a different series, this unique opportunity is possible as Legacy Motor Club will switch from Chevrolet to Toyota in the upcoming season.

Nemechek replaces Carson Hocevar, who has been promoted to the Cup Series driving the #77 Chevy for Spire Motorsports. Nevertheless, LMC will have Hocevar in a Chevrolet outfit for the following two races after Homestead at Martinsville and Phoenix.

Team owner and 7-times Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson said, “Thanks to our long-term partners at Chevy and our future partners of Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing, we have an opportunity to run one race this season with our future driver John Hunter Nemechek in the #42 car.”

“So just for one race, Carson’s going to step aside, he’s going to come and hang at the race and watch, and we’ll put Carson back in to close out the season,” he added.

So you think Nemechek will be able to live up to the expectations of Jimmie Johnson and perhaps prove Steve Letarte and Chopper wrong by making a top-10 finish? Again, only time will tell.

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