It seems Legacy Motor Club wants to give us a preview of the 2024 season. John Hunter Nemechek will officially become the driver of the No. 42 car in 2024, but he's getting an early opportunity.
Nemechek will get his first ride behind the wheel of the 42 this weekend at Homestead-Miami, and it will be the first of many races to come for him. Carson Hocevar has been handling the duties of driving the car for the past couple of months, but this weekend, Nemechek got the call.
It is a bit of an odd situation for Nemechek, though, as he is a Toyota driver with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. But he will get the opportunity to make a start in a Chevrolet for what is likely to be one time only as Legacy moves to Toyota next season.
The biggest reason Legacy went this route was to let Hocevar focus on Homestead as he tries to make the Championship Four in the Truck Series.
Team owner Jimmie Johnson took to X to officially announce Nemechek getting behind the wheel of the No. 42 early. Very rarely does a driver from one manufacturer get to drive for another manufacturer in season.
Important Message from team co-owner, Jimmie Johnson: pic.twitter.com/LoueUbjkID
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) October 16, 2023
Johnson thanked both Chevrolet and Toyota for letting this opportunity take place. It sure took a lot to make it happen. But it gives Nemechek a chance to get a little more acclimated to the Next Gen car. Coincidentally, he did make one Cup start at Homestead in 2022, when he filled in for a suspended Bubba Wallace.
Nemechek is very talented, and Homestead has been a good track for him. Expect Nemechek to make some noise on Sunday.
