LAS VEGAS — John Hunter Nemechek will do double duty this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Nemechek will kick off the weekend driving the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and will wheel the No. 26 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing during Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series test at the 1.5-mile speedway.
Nemechek thinks there is some overlap between the two machines.
“I do think there will be some things that can transfer from lines and laps and how the track rubbers up. Definitely cars on track this weekend, as far as the 20-minute practice deal and then qualifying and then the Truck race going into the Xfinity race,” he explained. “I think there is some value with that. I think just being out there on Friday night could definitely help for Saturday. I also definitely think after only 20 minutes of practice and Truck qualifying, being able to go and practice the Xfinity car and qualify the Xfinity car right before the Truck race will definitely help me as well.
“Vegas has been really good to me. I’ve been runner-up there I think once or twice in the Xfinity car, so I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel for Sam Hunt (Racing) and everyone at Toyota this weekend. We have Berry Bullets on board, so look forward to trying to make them proud, local company there. They are a long-time supporter of mine, so hopefully we can get them the victory on Saturday and get Mobil 1 a victory on Friday night.”
If Nemechek is to win on Friday night, one of the drivers he’ll have to beat is his boss, team owner Kyle Busch.
“I don’t think there is extra motivation. Him and I actually had a conversation about this a few weeks ago. I don’t think there is any extra motivation,” Nemechek said. “When you look at last year, we won three of the five races he was in and then all of the races that he wasn’t in we won two out of 18 of them.
“It’s a little bit different mindset I would say for us going into this year but looking forward in having the opportunity to race against Kyle (Busch). Anytime that you are able to race against him or any of the other Cup guys, you are always learning something. They always have a lot of knowledge and they have a really big notebook that they can pull from different moves and information.
“I think one of the best things is when he races, we are able to sit down and debrief after the race and I can pick his brain and he can pick my brain and figure out who was better where, what was different set-up wise in our trucks, what we both fought all night, looking at pit road statistics. There is a lot of different things we can look at and bounce off each other. You know you have a gauge when he comes down and runs. He’s going to maximize everything he possibly can.”