Do not make the mistake of ruling out LEGACY MOTOR CLUB this year, as Jimmie Johnson is on the offense. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is no longer the wide-eyed newcomer in the Toyota camp; it’s entering its third season with the manufacturer after making the bold switch from Chevrolet. And as they plan their next step, one of Johnson’s drivers is more than certain that a win or two is destined to happen.
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The confidence isn’t accidental, and Erik Jones knows it all too well. Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, the No. 43 LMC driver isn’t shying away from stepping into attack mode this year.
“We’ve got people in place. We’ve had time with Toyota. We know what we need from them, what they need from us. We’ve established somewhat of a working relationship with JGR. So there are a lot of things in place that should be good. It’s just a matter of seeing how they all come together. So everybody’s settled and in place.”
While the team has been finding its footing, it has often looked like the overlooked sibling behind powerhouse operations like Joe Gibbs Racing.
Weekends have been more about chasing top tens than trophies, and in 2025, the results reflected that, with Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek finishing 24th and 25th in the standings.
A respectable effort, but far from the standard the organization envisions. Now, the warning shot for 2026 is clear. Help is coming, and expectations are rising.
Jimmie Johnson has confirmed that deeper collaboration with JGR is on the horizon with Verizon, signalling a shift from a polite partnership to meaningful integration. Sharing data, simulation tools, and technical direction could be the difference between surviving and contending.
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In today’s NASCAR landscape, results that merely hover outside the playoff bubble are not a sustainable business model. Legacy knows that incremental progress won’t be enough; it needs a leap.
Johnson has been quickly stacking the deck to make that leap possible. Since acquiring the team from Richard Petty Motorsports, he’s infused the organization with seasoned leadership, bringing respected veterans and performance minds from across the garage.
The infrastructure is stronger. The Toyota relationship is more mature. The expectations are unmistakable. If 2025 was about stabilizing, 2026 is about striking.
With the seven-time champion steering the vision, anything short of a trip to Victory Lane feels like unfinished business, and if the pieces truly click, don’t be surprised if one win turns into several. But with the Daytona 500 right around the corner, can any of the LMC drivers grab the trophy?
Do any of the LMC drivers have a shot at winning the Daytona 500?
If you are hunting for a dark horse with real bite at the Daytona 500, circle John Hunter Nemechek’s name in bold. In the next generation, nobody has been more consistently sharp at the great American race.
He’s had a knack for keeping his nose clean, his fenders straight, and his name hovering near the front when it matters most. If he can stay out of the chaos and survive the late race shuffle on Sunday, don’t be surprised if he’s right back in the mix when the field storms towards the checkered flag.
Definitely don’t overlook his teammate. Erik Jones already knows what Daytona glory feels like; he’s been to Victory Lane there before. The former JGR standout understands superspeedways better than most, and he is armed with a teammate who brings a championship degree of his own as a truck series race winner.
Between Jones’s proven Daytona touch and Nemechek’s next-gen consistency, the duo gives LEGACY MOTOR CLUB a legitimate puncher’s chance.
The final Daytona 500 starting lineup will be set after Thursday night’s Duels at Daytona, where the intensity feels more like Saturday night than a qualifying session.
Nemechek rolled off P9 in Duel No. 1, putting him in a solid position to race forward and protect track position. Jones lines up P12 in Duel No. 2, close enough but far enough back to need a smart, calculated drive through the draft.
Meanwhile, things look different for the team co-owner, Johnson. The seven-time Cup Series champion will strap into the part-time No. 84 starting P15 in Duel No. 1.
Johnson carries the open exemption provisional, the so-called promoter’s choice reserved for highly accomplished drivers, the same provision that helped Hélio Castroneves secure a spot in 2025.
With experience, urgency, and a little Daytona unpredictability in the air, Legacy’s camp won’t just be riding around Thursday night; they will be setting the tone.