AVONDALE, Ariz.: The start to the NASCAR Xfinity Series season has been close to ideal for John Hunter Nemechek.
The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota finished second in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, won at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and came home sixth last Saturday at Las Vegas.
In the series’ first visit to a track one mile or shorter, Nemechek likes his chances in Saturday’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway (4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“I definitely have a lot of confidence going to Phoenix,” Nemechek said. “(Crew chief) Ben (Beshore) and the guys are doing an amazing job bringing fast GR Supras to the track every week.
“I feel like Phoenix is a good track for me personally, and it’s a great track for JGR if you look at what they’ve been able to do there. I think we’re in a good spot, and if we can just execute all day—on the track and on pit road—we’re going to be in contention for sure.”
Nemechek’s confidence notwithstanding, the path to Victory Lane won’t be easy. He must face the driver who fielded rides for him in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series—Kyle Busch.
Busch has amassed 11 victories and nine poles in 24 starts at Phoenix. He has scored top-three results in his last 10 races at the 1.0-mile track, the last coming in 2020.
Busch will be making his second Xfinity Series start for Kaulig Racing, after running fourth last Saturday at Las Vegas.
“In our first Xfinity race together at Kaulig Racing, we learned a lot together and found some areas we can improve on,” said Busch, who owns the career series record with 102 victories. “Hopefully, Phoenix is an even better weekend for us.”
Source: Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service
