Legacy Motor Club
Legacy Motor Club is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Primarily owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in partnership with Knighthead Capital Management, the team is headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina, and fields Toyota Camry XSE entries: the No. 42 driven full-time by John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 by Erik Jones, and the No. 84 by Johnson on a limited schedule.[1][2][3] The organization originated from the 2021 merger of Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing to form Petty GMS Motorsports, which rebranded to Legacy Motor Club in 2023 upon Johnson's entry as co-owner alongside founder Maury Gallagher, with NASCAR legend Richard Petty serving as team ambassador to honor its historical roots.[1][4] In 2024, the team transitioned from Chevrolet to a technical alliance with Toyota Gazoo Racing, aiming to leverage manufacturer support for improved competitiveness.[5] Johnson assumed majority ownership in January 2025, shifting Gallagher to an ambassador role amid a restructuring backed by Knighthead Capital.[3][6] Since the rebranding, Legacy Motor Club has yet to secure a NASCAR Cup Series victory but has shown progressive results, including 10 top-10 finishes through the first 19 races of the 2025 season and both cars finishing in the top five at the Southern 500.[7][8] The team's efforts emphasize building on the championship pedigrees of its principals—Petty's 200 career wins and Johnson's seven titles—while pursuing race wins and playoffs contention through data-driven enhancements and driver development.[1][9]
Ownership and Structure
Founding and Evolution
Petty GMS Motorsports was formed in December 2021 when Maury Gallagher's GMS Racing acquired the NASCAR Cup Series operations and charter of Richard Petty Motorsports, merging the entities to establish a single-car team competing with the No. 43 Chevrolet.[10] This partnership leveraged GMS Racing's success in lower-tier NASCAR series, where it had secured multiple championships since its founding in 2010, with the goal of building competitiveness in the premier Cup Series through enhanced resources and Petty's historical legacy.[1] In late 2022, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson joined as a co-owner, bringing his racing expertise and business acumen to the organization.[11] On January 11, 2023, the team rebranded to Legacy Motor Club, expanding to two full-time Cup Series entries—the No. 42 and No. 43 Chevrolets—while emphasizing a forward-looking identity detached from prior naming conventions.[4] This evolution included Johnson's planned part-time driving role in the No. 84 car, signaling a strategic shift toward leveraging veteran leadership for performance gains.[12] Further changes occurred in May 2023, when Legacy Motor Club announced a manufacturer switch from Chevrolet to Toyota effective for the 2024 season, partnering with Toyota Racing Development to access advanced engineering support and aim for improved on-track results.[11] On January 27, 2025, Johnson assumed majority ownership following an investment from Knighthead Capital Management, which acquired a minority stake, while co-founder Maury Gallagher transitioned to a reduced role after over a decade leading GMS Racing's expansion efforts.[3] This restructuring positioned the team for sustained growth, with Johnson citing a commitment to innovation and winning as core drivers.[13]Current Ownership
Legacy Motor Club is currently majority-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson following a restructuring announced on January 27, 2025.[13][3] In this arrangement, investment adviser Knighthead Capital Management acquired a minority stake in the team, enabling Johnson's controlling interest.[13][6] Former co-owner Maury Gallagher, previously associated with GMS Racing, transitioned to an ambassador role for the organization as part of the ownership shift.[6][3] Knighthead Capital Management, which oversees approximately $9 billion in assets including investments in automotive and motorsports entities, provides strategic support to the team under this partnership.[3] This structure positions Johnson as the primary decision-maker for Legacy Motor Club's operations heading into the 2025 and beyond seasons.[13][7]Organizational Leadership
Legacy Motor Club's organizational leadership is headed by majority owner Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, who assumed this position on January 27, 2025, through a partnership with Knighthead Capital Management, the team's co-owner.[14][1] Johnson, previously a co-owner, oversees strategic direction and driver involvement, including his planned select-race participation in 2025.[15] Calvin "Cal" Wells III serves as Chief Executive Officer, appointed on July 26, 2023, by then-co-owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson.[16] Wells, a motorsports veteran with over 40 years of experience including team ownership in NASCAR and open-wheel racing, manages day-to-day operations and expansion efforts.[17] Richard Petty, NASCAR's winningest driver and a Hall of Famer known as "The King," acts as Club Ambassador, providing historical expertise and promotional support following the team's evolution from Petty GMS Motorsports.[1] Prior executive appointments, such as Bruce J. Mosley as President of Business Operations in early 2023, were short-lived, with Mosley departing shortly after.[18] Recent technical hires, including Chad Johnston as Manager of Race Engineering in November 2024, bolster operational capabilities amid the team's transition to Toyota machinery.[19]Racing Operations
NASCAR Cup Series
Legacy Motor Club entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021 as a rebranded entity from prior operations, initially competing with Chevrolet engines and chassis under a technical alliance that evolved over time. The team fielded multiple car numbers, including the Nos. 42, 42, and 43, and 84, with a rotation of drivers such as Ty Dillon, Noah Gragson, and Erik Jones in its early seasons. By 2023, the organization expanded its efforts but faced challenges in consistency, utilizing eight drivers across 35 races without securing a victory or pole position.[8] In May 2023, Legacy Motor Club announced a manufacturer switch to Toyota effective for the 2024 season, partnering with Toyota Racing Development for technical support, which included access to shared engineering resources and parts commonality under NASCAR's Next Gen car regulations. This transition aimed to leverage Toyota's competitive package in superspeedway and intermediate track events, though initial results were hampered by adaptation issues, with the team posting limited top-10 finishes—six combined between primary drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones for the year. Jimmie Johnson, team co-owner, entered select races in the No. 84 car starting in 2023, adding veteran experience but no wins.[5][11][20] For 2025, the team stabilized with full-time entries in the No. 42 for John Hunter Nemechek and No. 43 for Erik Jones, both driving Toyota Camry XSE models, alongside Johnson's part-time No. 84 schedule. Performance improved markedly, exemplified by a pair of top-five finishes in the Daytona 500—third for Nemechek and fifth for Johnson—marking the team's best restrictor-plate result to date. Through mid-season, the duo surpassed their 2024 top-10 total, achieving multiple top-15s, such as at Pocono Raceway, and positioning closer to playoff contention despite no victories. Jones reached his 300th Cup start at Texas Motor Speedway in May, underscoring the team's growing operational maturity.[2][21][22][23][7]
Team Cars and Drivers
Legacy Motor Club fields three entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, all Toyota Camry XSE models competing under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner. The team holds charters for the No. 42 and No. 43 cars, enabling guaranteed starts in all points-paying events, while the No. 84 operates on a part-time basis without a charter.[2][24] The No. 42 car is driven full-time by John Hunter Nemechek, with Travis Mack serving as crew chief. Primary sponsorship comes from Dollar Tree, which extended its multi-year partnership in July 2025 to support Nemechek's efforts. Additional sponsors have included Pye Barker Fire & Safety and themed promotions such as Backstreet Boys branding at select races like Las Vegas.[2][24][25] Erik Jones pilots the No. 43 entry on a full-time basis, marking his fifth consecutive season with the team in 2025 following a multi-year contract extension announced on August 13, 2025. Ben Beshore is the crew chief, and primary sponsors include AdventHealth and Dollar Tree. The No. 43 has faced technical scrutiny, such as a disqualification for inspection violations after the March 2025 Martinsville race.[26][2][24] Team co-owner Jimmie Johnson drives the No. 84 car in select races, including the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in 2025, with Chad Johnston as crew chief. Carvana provides sponsorship for Johnson's outings, as seen in the February 2025 Daytona event. Johnson's limited schedule focuses on high-profile superspeedway and intermediate tracks, leveraging his seven championships for occasional competitive edges.[27][28][15]| Car No. | Driver | Crew Chief | Primary Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek (full-time) | Travis Mack | Dollar Tree, Pye Barker Fire & Safety |
| 43 | Erik Jones (full-time) | Ben Beshore | AdventHealth, Dollar Tree |
| 84 | Jimmie Johnson (part-time) | Chad Johnston | Carvana |
Performance Records
Legacy Motor Club, operating as Petty GMS Motorsports prior to its 2023 rebranding, has recorded one victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, achieved by Erik Jones on September 4, 2022, at Darlington Raceway in the No. 43 car.[29] Across its history in the series from 2021 onward, the team has amassed no championships, zero poles, and limited laps led, totaling 248 overall.[30]| Year | Starts | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Avg. Start | Avg. Finish | Laps Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 72 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 24.0 | 19.4 | 149 |
| 2023 | 70+ | 0 | 1 | 7 | 24.5 | 22.0 | 24 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 27.1 | 24.2 | 36 |
| 2025 | 68 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 23.7 | 20.0 | 48 |