From football fields to pit road's demanding precision, Kellen Mills earns NASCAR's highest honor, redefining excellence with explosive power and fluid grace.
STATESVILLE, N.C. — LEGACY MOTOR CLUB proudly announced Kellen Mills as the inaugural recipient of the Richard Petty Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest internal honor recognizing individuals who embody the values and enduring spirit of Richard Petty, “The King.”
Mills’ path to NASCAR is anything but conventional. A former football walk-on at Arizona State University, he didn’t grow up as a NASCAR fan and had little exposure to motorsports early in life. His introduction to the sport came through an unexpected opportunity—when a strength coach recognized Mills’ unique combination of power, precision, and discipline and encouraged him to pursue a career on pit road.
Now more than a decade into his NASCAR career, Mills has worked alongside some of the sport’s most accomplished competitors before emerging as a leader with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. He currently serves as jackman for the iconic No. 43 team, often the first crew member to engage the car as it hits pit road - an earned position of trust in one of the most demanding roles in the sport.
In NASCAR, races can be won or lost in the pits, where every tenth of a second matters. For Mills, the jackman role plays directly into his strengths. He describes it as a blend of powerlifting and ballroom dancing—explosive yet precise, physical yet fluid, all driven by timing and execution.
Mills was overcome with emotion when Jimmie Johnson called him to the stage and presented him with an authentic Richard Petty Charlie One Horse hat as the first recipient of the award.
“It’s kind of a lot, actually,” said Mills when he was awarded the honor at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s 2026 season kickoff meeting at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte on Jan. 28. “Knowing Richard Petty now and seeing all he accomplished – I have a lot to live up to. It’s cool sitting here and seeing everyone at the team (right in front of me). As an individual, you are faced with a lot of decisions in your career – but from the first moment I sat down with Chris (Hall, Director of Pit Crew Operations) to talk about joining LEGACY, it was clear that there would be a lot of opportunities for me here. It’s easy to invest in something when you see there’s going to be return on it.”
While NASCAR wasn’t his first love, Mills has developed a deep appreciation for the sport’s relentless demand for innovation, trust, and split-second strategy—qualities that mirror the values at the heart of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s culture.
The Richard Petty Award for Excellence represents the pinnacle of achievement at the team, honoring individuals who consistently demonstrate LEGACY MOTOR CLUB's values of integrity, accountability, teamwork, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. More than on-track performance, the award recognizes character, leadership, and a commitment to uplifting those around them while helping fuel our future through meaningful contributions to team culture and community.
“As the inaugural recipient, Kellen sets the standard,” said Johnson. “His journey, humility, and commitment to mastery embody what this award represents. He doesn’t just perform at a high level—he elevates everyone around him. He does it with a smile and we are so proud to honor him today.”
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, "The King", serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.