Qualifying is one of the most crucial sessions in any race weekend. For a driver, the starting track position often sets the tone of what kind of race they will run. So when a driver fails to compete in the qualifying session, they are forced to the back of the grid. This is never an ideal situation for any driver, regardless of how competitive their car may be. For Joe Gibbs, this has become a recurring problem. One of his most promising drivers just failed to compete in a qualifying session two race weekends in a row.
For a man like Joe Gibbs, success is something that he is quite familiar with. Failure isn’t, at least of late. But everyone goes through a rough patch at some point in their lives. That is exactly what it has been like for Gibbs’ 26-year-old Xfinity Series prodigy John Hunter Nemechek. And the way things have not been going well for him is just frustrating to see.
Joe Gibbs prodigy suffers déjà vu as another difficult race day awaits
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John Hunter Nemechek has been in outstanding form this season and he is one of the favorites to win the Xfinity Series title at the moment. With a whopping 7 wins and 15 top-five finishes so far this season, the driver of the #20 has been on an absolute roll. However, of late, things have gotten tough for the Mooresville native.
Last week at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the JGR Xfinity Series driver suffered an oil leak hours before the race. This was cause for concern for both his fans and the team. It was during the qualifying session that the #20 of John Hunter Nemechek was forced to bring his car back to the garage, ending his session.
But the 26-year-old fought back. Starting from the back of the pack, Nemechek proved to everyone why he was regarded as such an incredible driver with a P8 finish. Had he started higher up the order, the JGR man might have won the race.
Unfortunately for the 2021 Truck Series champion, his JGR crew repeated the exact same mistake in Las Vegas. The #20 car was once again riddled with the same oil leak issue. Yet again, his qualifying run had to be canceled. John Hunter Nemechek will start the Vegas race from the back of the pack again. Fans will be hoping for another monumental performance by the 26-year-old.
For the second week in a row, John Hunter Nemechek won't make a qualifying lap. He smelled gear oil from inside the car and the team is working for fix what they found. #NASCAR Xfinity qualifying underway beginning with Dawson Cram, who was sixth-fastest in practice.
— Cole Cusumano (@Cole_Cusumano_) October 13, 2023
However, it is not all bleak for the 2021 Truck Series champion. He recently wrote his name in Joe Gibbs Racing’s history books. His earlier race victory marked an important milestone for Joe Gibbs, who can be proud of his Xfinity prodigy.
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Xfinity Series favorite writes his name into JGR folklore
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With his Xfinity Series victory in Kansas earlier in the season, John Hunter Nemechek handed Joe Gibbs Racing their 200th win in the Xfinity Series. It was an incredible achievement for the heavyweight team.
John Hunter Nemechek will always be remembered by the Joe Gibbs faithful alongside some legends. These legends include Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and others. These are some of the drivers who have won the Xfinity Series races with JGR.
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But the 26-year-old will not be a part of Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024. From the next season, John Hunter Nemechek will be a full-time Cup Series driver for Legacy Motor Club. He will drive the #42. Do you think he’ll get off to a good start at Legacy in the Cup? Let us know your thoughts.
WATCH THIS STORY: Martin Truex Jr’s playoff hopes dim as Joe Gibbs Racing struggles