John Hunter Nemechek has gotten the call and will have a chance to further write his family's legacy, as he will become the new driver of the No. 42 for Legacy Motor Club in 2024.
With the team moving to Toyota, this announcement comes as no surprise. Nemechek has been a strong contender this season for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and will make the move back to the Cup Series.
Nemechek made the announcement official on his YouTube channel.
"To be able to announce my plans for next season so early and officially say I will be competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series relieves a lot of pressure," Nemechek said. "There is so much to be done for next year, and this gives us the opportunity to get the news out there and move forward. Also driving, for Maury [Gallager], Jimmie [Johnson] and Richard Petty is a dream come true for me."
Johnson is thrilled to have Nemechek joining the team and believes he is exactly the kind of driver and teammate that Erik Jones needs to help the team compete for wins. Johnson joined "NASCAR Race Hub" to talk about the announcement.
John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 42 for @LegacyMotorclub next season. #NASCAR #RaceHub@JHNemechek | @JimmieJohnson pic.twitter.com/nfrQROggRl
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 6, 2023
"We're excited to have John Hunter in the Legacy Motor Club family and I can't wait to see what he can do in the No. 42 next season," Johnson said. "He is impressive both on and off the track and will be a great ambassador for Legacy M.C. and our partners. He will be a solid teammate to Erik [Jones] and I can't wait to watch them both compete for wins and championships for years to come."
This opportunity is a full-circle moment for Nemechek and his family. His dad, Joe, famously drove a No. 42 car early in his own Cup career. In fact, 42 was the number of the car in which Joe scored the first of his four career Cup wins. Now, John Hunter has a chance to add to the legacy of his last name and that number.
It may take some adjusting for the whole team, as Legacy has really struggled this year after Johnson bought into the team before the start of the season.
Year two could be a much better situation, especially with Nemechek behind the wheel. He has proved he competes with the best in NASCAR no matter what car or situation he has been in.
Nemechek will be one of the many names to keep an eye on come the 2024 season.
