Gone are the days when NASCAR Cup Series stars would regularly mix it up in the lower ranks, balancing their Sunday races with Xfinity and Truck Series outings. It used to be part of the charm of the sport, a showcase of raw talent and versatility. Drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin made a habit of it, throwing down in the junior series to sharpen their edge or simply for the love of racing. Nowadays, though, it’s a rarity, something we get to see maybe once in a while when the Cup series star really feels like it. Time constraints, increased preparation demands, and often restrictive contracts mean that most Cup drivers stick to their primary rides. For John Hunter Nemechek, it’s a reality that’s hitting particularly hard this year.

Nemechek opened up about the lack of importance of the Xfinity Series this year.

Nemechek misses Xfinity as he hits a crossroads in the Cup Series

Nemechek, at 27, is entering what feels like a make-or-break year in the NASCAR Cup Series. His 2024 campaign with Legacy Motor Club wasn’t one for the highlight reels—34th in points and only four top-10 finishes. The Cup car just didn’t deliver consistently, leaving Nemechek grasping for momentum.

Nemechek admitted that 2025 is a make-or-break year for him in a candid interview with Bob Pockrass. “Focusing on the Cup Series is priority number one for me.” This year, his Xfinity calendar is blank. “As of right now, no,” he said when asked if he had any Xfinity races lined up for 2025. “At times, I definitely wish that I was running some Xfinity races, but at the same time, focusing on the Cup Series is priority number one for me. I feel that seat time is seat time.”

It’s not for lack of effort, and it’s certainly not for lack of talent. Nemechek has an impressive résumé in the Xfinity Series, boasting 11 wins and 67 top-10 finishes in just 111 starts. Last year, he made the most of his part-time schedule, scoring wins at Las Vegas and Nashville and keeping his confidence up during a rocky Cup season. And there it is—the crux of the issue. Nemechek knows that racing in Xfinity helped him stay sharp and confident, even when things weren’t going well in the Cup. “For last year, where we weren’t great every weekend in the Cup car, it definitely kept my confidence up when I would run the Xfinity car, knowing that I could go out there and run top three and win races.”

But for 2025, the focus is all on the Cup Series. “It definitely stinks. As a race car driver, I love to race everything that I possibly can get in.” He hasn’t entirely ruled out other opportunities, though. “I would be open to trucks, Xfinity, whatever. If it’s a lawn mower and has a motor, Bob, I’m all for it.” Classic racer mentality.

Nemechek’s career has been a rollercoaster of promise and setbacks. He burst onto the NASCAR scene in the Craftsman Truck Series as a teenager, snagging his first win at Chicagoland in 2015. In Xfinity, he’s proven just as potent, finishing fourth in points in 2023 while driving full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing. But the Cup Series is a different beast, and Nemechek’s results so far have been underwhelming. His first stint in 2020 with Front Row Motorsports didn’t pan out, prompting him to step back to Trucks and Xfinity to rebuild. This second go-round with Legacy Motor Club hasn’t been much kinder. Last year’s struggles, combined with a slew of DNFs, have left him with everything to prove in 2025.

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The path forward for Nemechek

There is some hope on the horizon. Travis Mack, known for his strategic brilliance, has joined Legacy as the crew chief for the No. 42 Toyota. It’s a pairing that could spark a turnaround, but it’s far from a guarantee. For Nemechek, it’s about digging deep and finding that extra gear. “Work hard and never give up,” he said in 2023. “No matter what the situation is, always keep your head down and your elbows up. Keep working hard—through rough times and through good times—and never take anything for granted.”

He’ll need every ounce of that work ethic to make this season count. The Cup Series has seen plenty of drivers fade into obscurity after failing to make their mark. There’s a glimmer of inspiration to be found in the career of Martin Truex Jr. The outgoing Joe Gibbs Racing star didn’t truly hit his stride in the Cup Series until nearly a decade after his debut. Like Nemechek, Truex had strong credentials in Xfinity, but it wasn’t until his Furniture Row Racing days that he became a consistent winner and a Cup champion. Nemechek would do well to emulate that kind of perseverance.

For now, though, the focus is clear: make 2025 a year to remember. Whether it’s enough to keep his Cup career alive remains to be seen, but if nothing else, John Hunter Nemechek is determined to give it everything he’s got.