AVONDALE, Ariz. – With Ross Chastain’s future at Chip Ganassi Racing set in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season, the one question that remains unanswered is what will become of John Hunter Nemechek?
The son of veteran NASCAR Joe Nemechek joined CGR this season in a limited schedule, and while his success didn’t churn as quickly as Chastain, Nemechek has been consistent and found his way to Victory Lane last month at Kansas Speedway, three races after Chastain scored his inaugural Xfinity Series win at Las Vegas in September.
The two young drivers have shared the No. 42 Chevrolet seat this season with road racing veteran Justin Marks and CGR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray.
Team owner Chip Ganassi said Friday morning in the new ISM Raceway Media Center he’d like to bring back a second full-time Xfinity Series car to the stables but said they haven’t finalized everything to make it a reality.
“I’d like to run John Hunter in a second, that’s what I’d like to do,” he said Friday at ISM Raceway. “I think I got two young shooters here. I’d like to run him. We have entrusted him for these last couple of races and we’ve entrusted him at Miami for the championship (owners). We got lots of things to do there.”
While Nemechek has brought funding to CGR from longtime partner Fire Alarm Services, Ganassi said he is working on additional funding to put Nemechek full-time in 2019, although no official deadline is clear.
“It’s safe to say that John Hunter has done a great job for us and I like the kid and I want him around,” added Ganassi. “I’m actively working. I’d love to run two cars in Xfinity next year full-time. That’d be the best. That’d be the best of all worlds if I could do that.”
Heading into Saturday afternoon’s penultimate Xfinity Series race of the season, the Mooresville, N.C.-native has one win, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 16 starts. Entering Phoenix, he carries an average finish of 10.6.
Another possibility for the 21-year-old next season could be the Xfinity Series open seat at GMS Racing. At Kansas, driver Spencer Gallagher announced he would retire from full-time driving duties leaving a void to be filled.
A GMS Racing executive confirmed to CATCHFENCE.com that Nemechek is a candidate to replace Gallagher aboard the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro next season but declined to reveal any specifics.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
