
via Getty
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks on stage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to retire from full-time NASCAR racing after 2020. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

via Getty
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks on stage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to retire from full-time NASCAR racing after 2020. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Let’s just say Legacy Motor Club has had a disappointing run in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series. With their #42 and #43 drivers currently ranking very low on the leaderboards, LMC’s current performance is a far cry from their 2022 campaign. Since their performance has not been something to write home about, the team was most recently in the headlines because of their #42 driver, Noah Gragson, and his crash at Gateway Motorsports Park. While the team’s star driver had to sit out the Sonoma race because of concussion-like symptoms, adding insult to injury, NASCAR had more bad news for the team.
Following the post-race inspection at the World Wide Technology Raceway, NASCAR handed an L1-level penalty to the No.43 Legacy Motor Club team.
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Legacy Motor Club becomes the latest team to join NASCAR’s penalty fiasco
Legacy Motor Club No.43 driver Eric Jones finished 18th at Gateway while teammate Noah Gragson, driving the #42 bowed out of the race after a massive crash. Disaster struck the already struggling LMC team when NASCAR levied an L1-level penalty following the post-race inspection of Erik Jones’s No.43 Chevrolet car, citing Section 14.1. Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules and 14.1.2.B Engineering Change Log.
Level 1 (L1) penalty is handed out for any parts added to a car that goes against NASCAR’s Rule Book or when cars fail to meet the minimum weight requirement post-race. In the case of #43, the penalty was levied after the post-race inspection revealed the modifications done to the greenhouse of the LMC Chevy, helping to achieve better aerodynamics.

USA Today via Reuters
Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones (43) races during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The LMC team and No.43 driver lost a massive 60 points along with 5 playoff points. Adding to that, NASCAR also fined crew chief Dave Elenz $75,000 and a two-race suspension. As per the latest reports, LMC Co-Owner and seven-time Cup Series Champion, Jimmie Johnson has notified NASCAR that Legacy Motor Club will be appealing against the penalty. Since then, there has been no development on the case. This, sadly, is not the first time NASCAR has dished out such a penalty to the team.
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A brief look at Legacy Motor Club’s L1 curse
The Pocono Race last year was no less dramatic as both the #42 and #43 teammates of Legacy Motor Club (then Petty GMS Motorsports) were levied the L1 penalty. Suspending the crew chiefs of both cars for one weekend, NASCAR imposed a 35-point loss on the drivers and team owners.
The decision was taken after it was found that both cars had their rocker box assemblies tampered with, violating Section 14.6.5.E of the NASCAR Rule Book. At that time, Petty GMS Motorsports didn’t appeal the ruling, accepting the penalty.
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The 2023 NASCAR season has been disastrous for Legacy Motor Club, to say the least. With Noah Gragson currently sitting out of the races following concussion-like symptoms, things are not looking very bright in Erik Jones’s corner as well. Currently, Jones is sitting 335 points behind the leader on NASCAR’s leaderboards.
Read More: Kyle Busch Wants to Have an Insulting New Award Specially Made for Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Team
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