Since its entry into the Cup Series, Legacy Motor Club has struggled to establish itself as a competitive force. After transitioning to Toyota last season, the team spent the year adapting to new equipment. Although improvements were evident this year, the team still failed to qualify for the playoffs. Erik Jones, piloting the No. 43 Toyota, achieved four top-five finishes and five top-ten results but did not secure a victory.
John Hunter Nemechek, the driver of the No. 42 Toyota, earned two top-five and eight top-ten finishes, while part-time driver and owner Jimmie Johnson recorded one top-five finish in two races this season.
Jones Reflects on the Team’s Performance and Expectations
Evaluating the season, Jones acknowledged that the team’s results did not meet the company’s hopes. He said,
I think maybe there was a bit higher expectation from the company for our program this year. I felt like this year’s is, like I said, I think it’s how I expected. I wish it would have been more successful. I think we’ve had times that we’ve had cars that we’re capable of running or contending for wins.
According to Jones, races at Indianapolis and Darlington were highlights, but overall, the team rarely had cars with winning speed.
He emphasized that being competitive in only two out of 38 races is insufficient, and the program must be capable of consistently competing at the front of the pack.
The Challenges of Maintaining Consistency Under Pressure
Jones elaborated on the difficulty of sustained success, particularly for a team still finding its footing. When a team seldom leads, the pressure intensifies on every member—from the driver to the crew chief—to make flawless decisions during high-stakes moments. He explained,
You’ve got to be settled and running up front and contending for wins. Everybody’s got to be comfortable with it, and we’re just not at that point. There are just parts of our program that aren’t where they need to be.
He also noted specific weaknesses, stating,
Our road course stuff, short track stuff hasn’t been there. Our mile-and-a-half stuff has been pretty good for the most part. So, we’re just still building, I think it’s kind of went along the line of where I see it,
signaling areas needing more development.
Building Foundations for Future Success
Jones admitted that the 2025 season represented the first with solid financial backing, personnel, and data resources for Legacy Motor Club. He views the current year as foundational, a chance to accumulate knowledge, adapt through the challenges, and prepare for improvement next season. This approach reflects a long-term plan to elevate the team’s competitiveness in the Cup Series.
