Toyota GAZOO Racing – NCS Las Vegas: Behind the Wheel with Jones & Nemechek (October 11, 2025)
Imagine risking your life every time you go to work. That's the reality for both UFC fighters and NASCAR drivers. But what happens when these two worlds collide? Before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek sat down to share their unique experiences at the UFC Performance Institute and their thoughts on the remainder of the season.
Meet the Drivers:
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE
Inside the Octagon (Kind Of): The UFC Experience
Both Jones and Nemechek had the opportunity to tour the UFC Performance Institute, an experience Nemechek described as "a lot of fun." He drew interesting parallels to the Toyota Performance Center where he and other Toyota drivers train. "Being able to compare and contrast what they do… to how Erik and I… trained at TPC was really interesting. There is a lot of crossover, a lot of things that we have as far as equipment and resources that they have."
But here’s where it gets controversial… Some might argue that the physical demands of UFC are far greater than those of NASCAR. What do you think? Is the comparison fair?
The highlight? Training with UFC legend Forrest Griffin. Nemechek recounted, "Being able to somewhat spar against him was a really good time… Being able to just be in his presence and chat and understand things that they go through, their mindset and how they prepare for fights, their recovery aspect, there was a lot there that we were able to see and dive into."
Jones echoed the sentiment, noting the similarities in tools and training, but also acknowledged the significant differences in physical demands. "They’re going through a lot more with their bodies… so it’s interesting just to see their recovery and how they handle that." While Nemechek enjoyed the sparring, Jones admitted a bit of reluctance. "I was pretty scared to try to him in the face like he told me… I don’t really want to get hit in the face here." He also mentioned his limited knowledge of UFC, making the experience even more enlightening.
Synergy or Separate Worlds? UFC vs. NASCAR
When asked about potential synergies between UFC and NASCAR, Jones pointed out a key difference: partnerships. "They don’t have partners, and we’re obviously heavily influenced by partners… I think the UFC is a little bit more able to embrace [personality] at times than probably what we are." He further suggested that both sports face similar challenges in terms of mainstream appeal, noting that UFC, despite its global reach, remains somewhat niche compared to leagues like the NFL. And this is the part most people miss... The pressure from sponsors can significantly impact a driver's or fighter's public persona.
Racing for the Win: Playoff Implications
With the playoffs underway, the drivers were asked about balancing their own goals with the championship aspirations of others. Nemechek made it clear: "Who says we’re giving up anything, we’re out here to win races!" He emphasized the opportunity to "spoil" the championship hopes of others while simultaneously improving their own performance for the future. "We look at it at it as opportunity to continue to try and build our notebook and learn and try and going into next year to be a Playoff contender."
He also acknowledged the need for respect towards playoff contenders, stating, "You don’t want to be the one that makes a mistake and wrecks them and takes them out of championship contention, right?" But he quickly reiterated their commitment to racing hard and providing the best possible opportunity for their team and partners.
Jones shared a similar perspective, emphasizing the potential to win at Las Vegas and Talladega. Regarding the playoff drivers, he advocated for showing "a little bit extra respect," framing it as an investment in future reciprocity. "I think we’re training to be a Playoff team, and so if that means giving those guys a couple extra inches in the next four weeks so that next year, maybe they remember that, I think that’s the way I look at it."
Sean Strickland: Unfiltered Interaction
The drivers were asked about their interaction with UFC fighter Sean Strickland.
Jones diplomatically stated, "I’m not saying what he said, but he was a nice guy. He is definitely funny." Nemechek added, "They really don’t hold anything back… they’re able to embrace it a little bit more without having to… be aware of what they say for partners." Both drivers clearly enjoyed Strickland's unfiltered personality.
Team Progress and Future Outlook
Reflecting on the team's progress compared to the previous year, Jones expressed optimism. "I think we’re in a lot better position right now." He identified ongoing challenges, particularly in the engineering core, which he described as "very young" and needing experience. However, he emphasized a significant improvement in excitement and overall direction. "Definitely a way better spot for me and at least excitement level… I think our cars are getting faster, and I think the people involved are in the right spots as well."
He also touched on the difficulty of finding that last bit of performance. “That last tenth, two tenths, that’s kind of the magic, and I think that’s the world we’re starting to living a little bit.”
Tire Talk: Lessons from Kansas
The drivers discussed the shared tire compound with the Kansas race and how they would apply those learnings to Las Vegas.
Nemechek explained, "I think we learned some things that work and some things that won’t work as far as setup wise… trying to learn what this tire wants from a setup perspective… how it migrates through the run, the tire fall off, how they build heat or how they wear." He highlighted the importance of adapting their approach based on the Kansas experience.
Jones humorously referenced Days of Thunder, describing the tire as "slicker than a butt in that trioval." He elaborated on the challenges of the tire's lack of grip and the need to experiment with different setups. "We kind of are trying different stuff to try to figure out what that tire wants. Migration’s huge with it… I think we learned a little bit what doesn’t work."
Looking Ahead: Horsepower and Playoff Changes
The conversation shifted to the proposed horsepower changes and potential playoff adjustments for 2026.
Nemechek expressed hope that the 750 horsepower package would improve racing on short tracks. "I definitely hope that it helps on some of the short tracks from tire degradation, tire wear, being able to manage your stuff and be able to show out, right?" He acknowledged the team's struggles on short tracks and the need to improve in that area.
Jones offered a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging the ongoing debate about horsepower levels. "At the end of the day, when I go to my local short track, my favorite race in the night is usually like the street stocks, and they’re not very fast, so I don’t know that going faster is always your answer to better racing. I think that’s a bit of a myth." He questioned whether increased horsepower would necessarily lead to better racing, suggesting that a trial period was necessary.
Venturini Motorsports Memories
Both drivers shared memories of working with Venturini Motorsports.
Jones recalled winning a race at Berlin, a track close to his hometown. "We won a race there at Berlin, which is one of my home tracks, that was really cool… That was my fondest memory. We went there and won that one hometown win for me." Nemechek remembered running a race at Mid-Ohio, qualifying on pole, but ultimately finishing fifth or sixth due to a tire strategy decision. Both drivers expressed gratitude to the Venturini family for their contributions to racing.
Weather Compensation: Adapting to Conditions
Finally, the drivers discussed how they would compensate for the weather differences between the practice/qualifying day and the race day.
Jones noted the track's sensitivity to temperature. "This place is pretty temperature sensitive, oddly enough… Qualifying is going to be… treacherous… it’s going to be difficult to know how much speed to carry." He anticipated the race running on the bottom due to cooler temperatures.
What do you think?
Do you agree with Jones that more horsepower doesn't necessarily equal better racing?
How much respect should non-playoff drivers give to playoff contenders? Should they just get out of the way?
Should NASCAR embrace more personality like the UFC?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
