The NASCAR garage is buzzing with drama, and Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club just got caught in the crossfire. T.J. Puchyr, the mastermind who co-founded Spire Motorsports and flipped the charter market on its head by snagging Furniture Row Racing’s dormant charter in 2018, is making waves again.

This time, he’s struck a blockbuster deal to buy Rick Ware Racing, a team running the No. 51 Ford for Cody Ware and occasionally fielding a second open car for drivers like Corey LaJoie. Puchyr’s diving back into NASCAR ownership, betting big that charters are undervalued gems ready to shine.

Here’s the real kicker: Legacy Motor Club thought they had a deal locked in to buy RWR’s second charter, which is currently leased to RFK Racing, for next season. But Puchyr’s move pulled the rug out from under them, leaving LMC empty-handed in a $40 million snub. Puchyr’s keeping it smooth, though, as Rick Ware stays on as a partner, Cody Ware keeps driving the No. 51, and all RWR employees are safe. As the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway looms, this shakeup’s got everyone talking about who’s got the edge in NASCAR’s high-stakes chess game.

“I am bullish on wanting to build a three-car team. I believe in the France family and the direction of the sport and I want the rest of the shareholders and industry to know that I believe the charters are worth $75 million or more,” he explained.

Legacy Motor Club claimed they had a deal to buy or lease it for 2026, but a judge sided with Ware, securing the charter for RFK through 2026, with a return to RWR in 2027. Puchyr’s endgame? Two full-time chartered entries by 2027, plus a third charter to build a three-car powerhouse.

The legal drama’s got teeth. Legacy’s push for that second charter fell apart, with Ware and Puchyr calling their deal flawed and unenforceable. Ware even countersued, and Puchyr didn’t hold back, slamming Legacy’s tactics as disrespectful and urging Jimmie Johnson to “talk things over like men.” It’s a bold shot in a high-stakes game where charters are hitting $30–40 million, raising eyebrows about market inflation and who can even afford to play.

RWR’s no stranger to struggle, often scraping the bottom of the Cup Series standings. Puchyr’s got a vision, though—keep Ware in the fold, retain every employee, and pour in time, talent, and cash to rebuild brick by brick. The goal’s clear: turn this underdog outfit into a contender that can trade paint with the big dogs.

This shakeup’s bigger than one team. The charter market’s ballooning, locking out even legends like Dale Earnhardt Jr., who’s still hunting for a Cup charter. It ties into the broader tension—like 23XI and Front Row’s antitrust lawsuit—over NASCAR’s iron grip on its franchise system. As the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway revs up on June 28, 2025, airing at 7:00 PM ET on TNT Sports, Puchyr’s gamble has everyone wondering who’s got the inside line.

Jimmie Johnson to drive the blue blaster hydroplane

Talk about a wild twist as the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is serving up a once-in-a-lifetime auction that’s got fans buzzing. Picture this: seven-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson piloting the iconic Atlas Van Lines “Blue Blaster” hydroplane at the 2025 Seattle Seafair races on August 1.

The highest bidder on Bring a Trailer’s no-reserve charity auction, plus a guest, scores a VIP experience, including a reception with Johnson and 11-time APBA Gold Cup champ Chip Hanauer, and a front-row seat to watch Johnson tear across Lake Washington. Every penny, including the buyer’s fee, goes to the Daytona-based Hall of Fame.

This isn’t just a random stunt because Johnson’s got history with the Blue Blaster. Back in 1979, a young Jimmie from El Cajon, California, watched hydroplanes with his dad, Gary, from Fiesta Island near San Diego. When the Blue Blaster broke down and drifted to shore, team owner Bill Muncey gave a nod, letting little Jimmie sit on the boat.

Years later, a photo of that moment, Jimmie in a yellow hat, resurfaced, confirmed by his mom. Fast forward to Johnson’s 2024 Hall of Fame induction, where the Muncey family and Hanauer invited him to drive the restored hydroplane. It’s a full-circle moment, and fans can bid to witness the next chapter of Jimmie’s wild ride.