“Had a Chip on Our Shoulder”- John Hunter Nemechek Comes Clean on Suppressed Cup Series Desires Amidst Favorable Legacy MC Pairing

If not for one unfavorable restart, John Hunter Nemechek would have been crowned the season’s champion. After a less-than-stellar performance in the 2020 Cup season, Nemechek felt the need to prove his mettle in the Xfinity Series. And one person ensured his glorious success.

In a similarly rocky boat as his #7 Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Crew Chief Ben Beshore left no stone unturned to emerge as the winningest Xfinity team this season. Heading toward the Cup Series next year, the future Legacy Motor Club star raved about their fortuitous connection.

John Hunter Nemechek and his crew chief paid their dues to earn a second Cup stint

Even without the season’s title, John Hunter Nemechek was undoubtedly the most promising star of the 2023 season. The 26-year-old driver won seven races, amassed 17 Top 5 finishes, and led an astounding 1083 laps—the highest among all competing drivers. In contrast, the title winner, Cole Custer, won three races and led 586 laps—almost half as many as the #7 driver. Even in the Championship 4 race in Phoenix, Nemecheck won Stage 1 and led 66 laps.

Unfortunately, he crashed on the final lap, but his talent shined throughout the year. And the #7 driver will be the first to credit his crew chief, Ben Beshore, for it. Be it the historic pairing of Jimmie Johnson-Chad Knaus or Dale Earnhardt Jr-Steve Letarte, legendary drivers have often craved that quintessential element—the coveted crew chief chemistry. To get the opportunity to carry that forward in the Cup Series, Nemechek reiterated the importance of that seamless fit.

Speaking to Sirius XM radio, the future cup star said, “To have the chemistry that I feel like we [Ben Beshore and him] have been able to have from the start has been absolutely amazing. Feel like we really hit it off and worked really hard over the last off-season just communicating and sitting down with each other and trying to figure each other out.” After all, they also shared a common goal- earning their way back to the Cup Series. 

Nemechek admitted, “We both have had a chip on our shoulder I guess to eventually make it back to Cup. Who knew that it would come this quick?” Beshore, who earlier worked with Kyle Busch in the Cup series “has proven himself at the Cup level and at the Xfinity level,” according to his talented driver. Nemechek gushed, “I’m excited to work with Ben and like I said, the chemistry is there…Hopefully, we can go into the Cup Series in 2024 and just have a really solid year.”

Watch this story: Unbelievable! Xfinity Series Race Ends in Chaos

Lost without his Hall of Famer crew chief, team owner Jimmie Johnson knew a fruitful pairing when he saw one.

Team owner Jimmie Johnson gives paramount importance to the driver-crew chief relationship

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After seven championships and 83 race wins, Jimmie Johnson and his crew chief, Chad Knaus, created an iconic partnership together. Without the sparkling chemistry and companionship he built with Knaus for 17 years, Johnson could not reach his earlier form and eventually retired. The legendary driver was not about to seal that fate for his promising star.

Bringing Ben Beshore along with Nemechek to his team at Legacy Motor Club seemed like the most natural solution for Jimmie Johnson. As reported by nascar.com, Johnson was quoted saying, “The driver-crew chief relationship is something I know well and it’s such an important part of the performance foundation. We are so thankful to see Ben join the Club.”

Referring to Legacy Motorclub’s move from Chevrolet to Toyota, the team owner continued, “His experience with John Hunter and Toyota will help us with the transition and his on-track experience will elevate us in so many ways.” Jimmie Johnson astutely summed it up for all the laurels awaiting John Hunter Nemechek. 

Read More: Veteran Insider Calls Out John Hunter Nemechek As He Praises Dale Jr’s Star’s Honesty