With NASCAR making the trip to Kansas Speedway this week, Xfinity Series John Hunter Nemechek is getting all nostalgic about one of his favorite memories at the Kansas City track.
Back in 2004, John's dad, Joe Nemechek, won both the Xfinity and Cup race at Kansas, and it led to an incredible family picture in Victory Lane, which John still cherishes to this day.
In a special video uploaded to NASCAR's YouTube channel, John recalled that special Victory Lane moment. "In the picture: my family — both of my sisters, Dad, Mom — Jay Frye, who now runs the IndyCar Series, his wife Danielle, she was a pit road reporter, Ryan Pemberton, who was my dad's crew chief at the time, and his wife Andrea," Nemechek said. "Full family affair right there. Everyone with their kids. And, being able to grow up with them and being around them is awesome."
John Hunter Nemechek has certainly come a long way since that day in 2004. He made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2013 and has since gone on to win 13 races in the series and rack up an additional 81 top-10 finishes. He made his first Xfinity Series start in 2018, and today he runs in the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, having already won two races for the team in 2023.
Aside from that momental day nearly 20 years ago, Kansas Speedway is a special place for the Nemechek family. It was the site of John's first Xfinity win in 2018, and when Joe made his sweep in back in 2004, it marked his final win in both series (he racked up a total of 16 wins and 126 top-10s in the Xfinity Series and four wins and 62 top-10s in the Cup Series). Even though John Hunter Nemechek undoubtedly still has a long career ahead of him, he should already be proud of his addition to the Nemechek's significant NASCAR legacy.
