Joe Nemechek ‘having fun’ in Cup return, eyes more races

NASCAR veteran Joe Nemechek is enjoying his return to the elite series of stock car racing.

Nemechek has competed in two races this season for Premium Motorsports, reuniting with team owner Jay Robinson whom Nemechek drove 14 races for in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2014.

Prior to this season, the four-time Cup Series winner’s last start came at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February 2015, filling in for David Ragan at Front Row Motorsports.

“You never know how this deal is going to go,” Nemechek, 55, said to The Racing Experts. “…I’m having fun getting to know these new cars, the new package they have, oh my gosh, what a difference, man.

“It’s way different than it’s been in the past.”

COMING TOGETHER

Nemechek said team owner Jay Robinson called him asking if he wanted to drive the car.

The deal was put together quickly, “last minute,” Nemechek said, just before the Darlington race.

Since then, Nemechek has driven the No. 27 Chevrolet to a 31st-place finish at Darlington and a 34th-place run on Sunday (September 15) at Las Vegas.

But the 24-year Cup Series veteran said he is not finished.

“There’s a couple more races on the schedule they want me to go to, so we’re just kind of doing it one-by-one,” Nemechek said.

BEYOND 2019
Nemechek had the following to say about his thoughts on running a full schedule in NASCAR’s premier series again, something he has not done since 2011.

“Who knows,” Nemechek said. “I know they’re talking about, we just have to see. It’s all about making it make sense.

“…I want to run some more races. I feel good, I’ve been able to win four times over here, and should have won a lot more of them, but, man, I’ve got a lot of birthdays, been doing this stuff, my kid’s coming now, he’s probably the next one that will hopefully get a good shot in a good car over here.”

Nemechek also said it would be a dream to run against his son, John Hunter Nemechek, in the Cup Series someday, even if it is just a one-off race.

In 669 starts in Cup, Nemechek has amassed four wins, 18 top-five finishes, 62 top-10 finishes and 10 pole awards.

SOURCES
Motorsport
Racing-Reference.info