Now, this is a massive shake-up. John Hunter Nemechek is officially heading to Haas Factory Team to pilot the No. 41 Chevrolet for the 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, as the organization announced on Wednesday.
He is bringing serious pedigree to the garage. As an 11-time winner in the O'Reilly Series, Nemechek makes the jump after finishing his fourth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. For his new campaign, he will partner with veteran crew chief Jason Trinchere, the exact mind who spent the last two seasons paired with Sam Mayer in that very same No. 41 machine.
That garage is expanding, too. Backed by primary sponsorship from Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Nemechek slots in alongside Dean Thompson on the Haas Factory Team roster for 2027. The team already confirmed back on August 8 that it is growing from a two-car operation into a three-car outfit for the new year, though plans for that third entry remain under wraps.
Joe Custer, president of Haas Factory Team, made it clear why they went and got him. “John Hunter brings the experience and talent we’re looking for at Haas Factory Team,” Custer said in a release, adding they are looking forward to chasing wins and championships together. Nemechek echoed that ambition, pointing straight to the machinery and personnel: “They have championship-caliber cars and personnel, and I’m ready to get to work with this group and compete for wins in 2027.”
Racing is in the blood for this second-generation driver. The Mooresville, North Carolina, native is the son of former O’Reilly champion Joe Nemechek and nephew of former racer John Nemechek. His career has seen quite the journey, from a full-time Cup debut in 2020 with Front Row Motorsports back down to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2021 to rebuild—where he racked up five wins in a stunning career rejuvenation—and right back up to the top level.
Since 2024, Nemechek has handled the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota in the Cup Series, collecting three top fives and 14 top 10s across his 107 starts with Legacy. Ahead of Sunday’s Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he sits 29th in the Cup Series points standings. Legacy Motor Club announced on September 2 that they would part ways with him following the 2026 season, later naming Josh Berry to the No. 42 Toyota seat for 2027.
Before then, Nemechek built a terrifying resume in the O'Reilly ranks. He has contested parts of six campaigns in the series, featuring full-time efforts in 2019 and 2023. That 2023 run with Joe Gibbs Racing stands as his absolute peak across NASCAR’s three national series, featuring seven victories, 17 top fives, 24 top 10s, and a fourth-place finish in the championship battle. He even ran 11 times in the O'Reilly Series in 2024, converting two of those appearances into wins.
