John Hunter Nemechek competes in the NASCAR Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club, the Toyota-powered team co-owned by seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, in the No.42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE.
Speedway Racing Ministries caught up with John Hunter at the Brickyard 400 over the weekend. The 28-year-old North Carolina native spoke to us about his faith.
We began our conversation by discussing how Nemechek began his relationship with Christ. He responded that he grew up as a Catholic, and his relationship started when he was young.
Nemechek says that, “it wasn’t until he was about 14 or 15 when I really accepted Christ into my life. I was going through things in my life racing wise.”
The Legacy Motor Club driver says that he grew up around motor racing outreach, traveling the country and he learned a lot through the years.
Nemechek says that ultimately if you are born into a family you must choose to accept Christ. When it comes to racing and his relationship with Christ, Nemechek says that it helps with his mentality and glorifying the Lord in everything you do.
No matter what you are doing in terms of ups and downs, highs and lows, whatever it may be. It keeps you down to earth, and he says ultimately it is knowing that the Lord is always there for you.
While discussing his own racing career, Nemechek says that the Lord has helped him through the ups and downs. He has faith and trust in him and that he is there. He believes that we can talk to him and are able to pray for safety and a lot of different things.
Nemechek says that the relationship with the Lord goes beyond his own personal relationship but also that of the team and the group of like-minded people he has surrounding him within Legacy Motor Club.
The 28-year-old says that most of the No.42 crew go to church together every Sunday and pray after their team meetings. Through this shared faith, the team have been able to push each other when it comes to finding their faith in the Lord.
Nemechek says that they glorify the Lord in everything that they do. His favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11.
He says that for him, “you never know what direction the sport is going to take you. Knowing that the Lord has plans for us because no matter what is going on in the sport in terms of changing teams or anything like that, the Lord always has plans for us.” That is why Jeremiah 29:11 is his favorite bible verse.
Nemechek says that fans should not be afraid of their faith. He says that a lot of people do not know the true feeling of being at peace when they find God.
There are some fans that are scared to find that feeling, so the main message he must share is that fans should not be afraid of finding and embracing their faith.
Nemechek believes that a legacy is something you leave in someone and not what you are doing on the racetrack; it is the impact that you make on people.
He believes that it is important to use the platform that he has been given as a NASCAR driver and leave a great impact.
He is working to give back to the community and glorifying God while being a great spokesperson for the sport of NASCAR.
Nemechek says that while he wants to win races and win championships, at the end of the day none of those matter.
Speedway Racing Ministries hopes that John Hunter’s faith and identity in Christ encourage you as race fans to pursue your faith and live to glorify God to your best ability.
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