Jimmie Johnson has recently explained that expanding the Legacy Motor Club (LMC) to three full-time cars in 2027 could significantly enhance the team’s competitive future. While financial benefits exist, the LMC co-owner emphasized that the primary motivation behind such a move is gaining more data and improving on-track performance.
LMC, which currently runs two full-time chartered cars driven by John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Toyota) and Erik Jones (#43 Toyota), will have a new third full-time entry with the care number #84, a number used by Johnson since his retirement from full-time racing.
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Legacy has been steadily building its NASCAR program in recent years, and Johnson believes adding another entry would significantly accelerate the team’s overall development.
During an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Jimmie Johnson spoke about the potential expansion, highlighting how crucial additional track time and information have become in the modern NASCAR era.
“With the testing as it is, the difficulty in correlating reality to the sim world that then goes into the simulator we all spend so much time in the more vehicles you have on track, the more data you receive and the quicker you make decisions. And adding a third car is a 33% more improvement in data, resources, track time, you name it. So, it is extremely important,” the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion said.
“The financial model is slightly beneficial as well… but I say that as a could, but really it’s about performance. It’s about having 33% more information to go racing and to advance your race team down the field” he continued.
Jimmie Johnson has not yet announced the name of a driver for his third car.
LMC was renamed in 2023 after previously being known as Richard Petty Motorsports and Petty GMS Motorsports. Johnson holds the majority of ownership in the team.
Jimmie Johnson’s team is still looking for its first win since the rebrand
Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club is still looking to taste their first victory since the rebranding from Petty GMS in 2023. John Hunter Nemechek has had a mediocre 2026 season; as he stands, he is 27th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. While Erik Jones is 14th with one top-five and four top-10 finishes in 17 races so far.
Jones holds an earlier Southern 500 win in 2022 under the previous ownership.
Jimmie Johnson will wrap up his legendary career in the 2027 Daytona 500, driving a part-time #13 entry.
Edited by Yash Soni