Legacy Motor Club Overview
Legacy Motor Club is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The organization was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina. The team fields three Toyota Camry entries, numbered 42, 43, and 84, with primary partners including AdventHealth and Dollar Tree. The team maintains a technical alliance with Toyota Racing Development, which supports its engineering and on-track operations.
The team’s identity is shaped by a high-profile ownership group led by seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, along with minority stakeholders Maury Gallagher, Richard Petty, and Knighthead Capital Management. Legacy Motor Club briefly expanded its competitive footprint into the electric off-road racing series Extreme E during the 2024 season, reflecting a broader interest in diverse racing formats. The organization continues to build its presence in NASCAR through competitive race drivers and ongoing operational development.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Legacy Motor Club traces its origins to December 1, 2021, when businessman Maury Gallagher purchased a majority interest in the former Richard Petty Motorsports for US$19 million. The acquisition included both of RPM’s charters, providing the foundation for a two-car operation in the Cup Series. The No. 43 retained its charter, while a second charter previously leased to Rick Ware Racing was reassigned to a new entry, initially numbered 94 and later renumbered to 42. Following the purchase, the team was rebranded as Petty GMS Motorsports, reflecting Gallagher’s involvement and the GMS Racing operation that moved up from the NASCAR Truck Series.
The early organizational structure was designed to bring GMS Racing’s competitive experience into the Cup Series while preserving the heritage of the Petty name. Ty Dillon was announced as the driver of the team’s inaugural Cup entry, and Erik Jones was retained to drive the No. 43. The team’s leadership included key personnel who would later shape its transition and growth. On July 26, 2023, Cal Wells was appointed as the team’s Chief Executive Officer, providing experienced leadership for the rebranded organization.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
Legacy Motor Club’s entry into the NASCAR Cup Series began with its debut at the 2022 Daytona 500, where the team competed under the Petty GMS Motorsports banner. The team fielded two full-time entries during its first season, with Dillon in the No. 42 and Jones in the No. 43. Throughout the 2022 season, the organization worked to establish its operational foundation, including a mid-season alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing that provided pit crew support for both entries.
A major turning point came on November 4, 2022, when seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson purchased an ownership stake in the team. Following the 2022 season, Richard Petty sold all of his shares to majority owner Gallagher, marking the end of the Petty family’s direct involvement with the team. On January 11, 2023, the organization was officially rebranded as Legacy Motor Club, marking the first time since the founding of NASCAR in 1949 that the Petty family did not have their name attached to a team in the Cup Series. The rebrand signaled a new era focused on building a competitive, forward-looking organization.
Legacy Motor Club Competitive Journey
Since its founding in 2021, Legacy Motor Club has steadily developed its presence in the NASCAR Cup Series, evolving from a two-car operation into a three-car team. The organization has navigated leadership transitions, manufacturer changes, and driver lineup adjustments while working to establish competitive consistency. Its journey includes a manufacturer switch from Chevrolet to Toyota in 2024, an expansion into Extreme E for a single season, and ongoing efforts to strengthen its on-track performance through technical partnerships and experienced personnel.
Early Seasons and Development (2022)
The team’s first competitive season in 2022 focused on establishing its two-car operation and building foundational race programs. Ty Dillon drove the No. 42, while Erik Jones remained in the No. 43, providing veteran leadership and continuity from the Richard Petty Motorsports era. Dillon recorded an eleventh-place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500 and earned a top-ten result at the Bristol dirt race, while Jones secured thirteen top-ten finishes, including a third-place run at Fontana and a fourth-place finish at Atlanta.
The season’s most significant milestone came at Darlington, where Jones scored the team’s first Cup Series victory, giving Petty GMS Motorsports its inaugural win. The result also marked the No. 43’s first victory since the 2014 Coke Zero 400 and the car’s 200th overall win, highlighting the historical significance of the achievement. The team faced regulatory challenges during the season, including L1 penalties at Pocono for both entries, but continued to build its operational capabilities through alliances and personnel development.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Cup Series (2023-2024)
The 2023 season marked a transformative period for the organization, beginning with the official rebranding to Legacy Motor Club in January. The team expanded to a three-car operation with the addition of the No. 84, driven part-time by co-owner Jimmie Johnson. Noah Gragson was signed to drive the No. 42, while Jones continued in the No. 43. The season was marked by significant challenges, including injuries, suspensions, and multiple driver substitutions across both the No. 42 and No. 84 entries.
On May 3, 2023, the team announced it would switch manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota beginning in 2024, marking a major strategic shift. The transition was accompanied by key personnel moves, including the appointment of Matt Kenseth as Competition Advisor in October 2023, followed by Trevor Bayne in January 2024 and Bobby Kennedy as General Manager in July 2024. The team’s first victory under the Legacy Motor Club banner came during the 2024 season, when Jones delivered a strong performance that reinforced the organization’s competitive direction. The manufacturer switch to Toyota aligned the team with Toyota Racing Development and provided new technical resources.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025)
As of 2025, Legacy Motor Club operates as a three-car Toyota program with a clear focus on long-term competitiveness. John Hunter Nemechek drives the No. 42 full-time, Erik Jones continues in the No. 43, and Jimmie Johnson competes part-time in the No. 84. On January 27, 2025, Johnson was named majority owner of the organization, with Knighthead Capital Management purchasing a minority stake and Maury Gallagher transitioning to an ambassador role. This restructured ownership solidified Johnson’s leadership and the team’s strategic direction.
The team’s modern program includes enhanced technical partnerships, experienced leadership, and a commitment to developing competitive race cars. Key personnel such as CEO Cal Wells, President Mike Beam, and General Manager Bobby Kennedy provide organizational stability, while competition advisors and crew chief assignments are tailored to maximize performance. The team continues to pursue growth through strategic charter acquisitions, as evidenced by its 2025 legal and eventual settlement agreement with Rick Ware Racing regarding a charter purchase.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Legacy Motor Club’s core identity centers on building a sustainable, competitive NASCAR Cup Series program through strong manufacturer support, experienced leadership, and high-profile driver talent. The team’s alliance with Toyota Racing Development provides access to advanced engineering resources and technical expertise. Its competitive strengths lie in its ability to attract veteran drivers and strategic partners, while its ownership structure brings championship-level experience to organizational decision-making.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among the team’s most notable achievements is Erik Jones’s victory at Darlington in 2022, which marked the organization’s first Cup Series win and the historic 200th win for the No. 43. The 2023 rebranding to Legacy Motor Club represented a historic moment in NASCAR, ending the Petty family’s direct presence in the Cup Series after more than seven decades. The transition to Toyota in 2024 and the restructuring of ownership in 2025 further defined the team’s modern identity and competitive ambitions.
Legacy Motor Club Achievements and Results
Legacy Motor Club has recorded one NASCAR Cup Series victory since its founding, along with multiple top-ten and top-five finishes across its entries. The team has steadily built its competitive resume through driver development, technical alliances, and strategic organizational moves. Its achievements reflect a program in growth mode, focused on establishing consistency and pursuing further success in the Cup Series.
Cup Series Achievements
The team’s primary Cup Series achievement is its victory at Darlington in 2022, when Erik Jones delivered the organization’s first win under the Petty GMS Motorsports banner. The win also marked the No. 43’s 200th career victory and its first since the 2014 Coke Zero 400. Throughout its history, the team has recorded multiple top-ten finishes, including Jones’s third-place run at Fontana in 2022 and his third-place finish at Kansas in 2023, which was the organization’s only top-five result that season.
Series Achievements
Beyond the Cup Series, Legacy Motor Club expanded into the electric off-road racing series Extreme E for the 2024 season. The team competed in select rounds with Jimmie Johnson as the lead driver, supported by Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter in the opening rounds and Patrick O’Donovan later in the season. The program scored its first Super Sector in Round 2 at the Desert X-Prix, though the team did not continue its Extreme E involvement when the series transitioned to Extreme H in 2025.