Can LEGACY Motor Club finally secure their breakthrough win and consistently contend for top finishes in 2026 with Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek?
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season marks a pivotal year for LEGACY Motor Club, the Toyota-aligned team co-owned by seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson. Entering its third full season with Toyota power (via Toyota Racing Development engines), the organization enters a pivotal year to take the right steps forward.
With stable full-time lineups in the No. 42 and No. 43 entries, financial backing from Knighthead Capital Management, and ambitions to expand, LEGACY is aiming to break through for its first Cup win under the current structure and contend more consistently at the front.
The core full-time drivers remain John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE (crew chief: Travis Mack) and Erik Jones in the No. 43 (crew chief: Justin Alexander, a new addition for 2026 bringing experience from Richard Childress Racing, including wins in the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600).
Nemechek, the second-generation talent, had his strongest statistical Cup season yet in 2025, posting better consistency and more races where the team showed competitive speed. He notched multiple top-10s and even ran upfront at tracks like Darlington, where he finished strong. However, the team still seeks that breakthrough win and more top-5s to match his Truck Series success. Nemechek had 21 finishes of 20th or worse last season.
Jones, a proven winner (including Daytona in 2018), has shown flashes of his talent but has struggled with consistency at LEGACY. In the last three seasons, he finished 24th or worse in points, with too many poor finishes despite capable runs. The crew chief change to Alexander signals an intent to unlock more potential, and Jones has the resume to deliver if the cars improve.
Both drivers benefited from late-2025 gains at LEGACY, including strong showings at Darlington (where Jones matched a team-high with a top finish) and optimism around increased horsepower packages for 2026.
Jimmie Johnson continues part-time in the No. 84 Toyota, a non-chartered entry. He delivered one of the team's highlights in recent years with a third-place finish in the Daytona 500, but most outings have been challenging amid the team's overall performance struggles. While his presence adds prestige and resources, questions linger about whether the part-time effort diverts focus from the full-time cars—though Johnson remains deeply involved as majority owner, shaping the team's vision.
LEGACY stands out in the Toyota camp as an outlier compared to 23XI Racing, lacking a direct technical alliance with powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing. This may contribute to flatter performance relative to other Toyotas.
Funding remains a strength: In early 2025, investment firm Knighthead Capital Management (managing $9 billion in assets, with a portfolio spanning sports like Birmingham City FC and JOTA Racing) acquired a significant minority stake, partnering with Johnson (now majority owner). This provides stability and resources for growth.
A key development is the push toward a third full-time chartered entry. LEGACY acquired a third charter (via resolution of a prior dispute with Rick Ware Racing), though 2026 sees no immediate third full-time car on track until next season. This represents a smart long-term investment, but the priority is elevating the current two cars to meet higher expectations.
Overall, 2026 feels like a make-or-break window for Nemechek and Jones. Their talent is undeniable—Jones has won races and run upfront elsewhere, while Nemechek was once a rising star—but results have been hampered by inconsistent team support.
If the new crew chief pairing, Toyota horsepower gains, financial muscle, and 2025 momentum translate, LEGACY could surprise with top-10 consistency, double-digit top finishes, and perhaps that elusive first win. Without it, the drivers may continue bearing the brunt of scrutiny despite the car's limitations.
This season will test whether LEGACY can truly live up to its name and legacy in the Cup Series.