Legacy Motor Club’s Daytona 500 Performance: A Glorious Start to 2025 for Johnson, Nemechek, and Jones!
Daytona Beach, Fla. — Legacy Motor Club kicked off the 2025 NASCAR season with an electrifying performance that stunned fans and rival teams alike at Daytona International Speedway. Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion turned owner-driver, led the charge by surging from 15th place with one lap to go, securing a third-place finish in the Daytona 500 — his best result since 2020!
Johnson, 49, couldn’t contain his excitement, relishing in the pride and joy of this new chapter. “This feels incredible,” he beamed. “I’ve never been in this position as an owner, and it really opens up a different set of emotions. The pride I have in this company and our team is just… wow.”
But Johnson wasn’t alone in his triumph. John Hunter Nemechek, 27, delivered his career-best finish with a fifth-place performance — marking his fifth-ever top-10 finish in the Cup Series. “Coming home fifth was a solid day for us,” Nemechek said, his eyes locked on the bigger picture. “We’re already better than last year, and we’re hungry for more.”
Meanwhile, Erik Jones drove the iconic No. 43 Toyota to a resilient 12th-place finish, showing the strength of the team even after a late-race collision. The trio’s combined performance was Legacy Motor Club’s best-ever finish, further proving the revamped team’s potential.
Crew chief Chad Johnston shared in the excitement, proudly calling out Johnson’s legacy. “You wouldn’t expect anything less from a seven-time champion,” Johnston said. “Today, we saw our hard work paying off.”
With a Toyota-powered car, Legacy’s new engine setup and team changes gave the cars the speed and power to perform well. “The car is better than it’s ever been,” said Jones, noting how the Next Gen car felt like it was in a league of its own.
And, of course, there was a special nod to the team’s historic roots. Once Richard Petty Motorsports, the team now carries a legacy of its own, with Petty’s record seven Daytona 500 wins still looming large in the history books.
Johnson, Nemechek, and Jones looked poised to continue making waves in 2025, with the Daytona result a clear sign that Legacy Motor Club is here to stay. “Two of our cars in the top five — what a way to start the season!” Johnson said with a grin. “Just an incredible experience.”
A powerful performance, a bold future, and a new chapter for Legacy Motor Club—2025 is looking brighter than ever!
