On Tuesday, January 25th, the team officially announced the recent signings. Legacy Motor Club, established in 2021 following the acquisition of Richard Petty Motorsports, is jointly owned by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. The leadership roles within the team are assumed by Mike Beam as President, Cal Wells III as Chief Executive Officer, and Bill Scott as Chief Operating Officer. The legendary seven-time Cup Champion Richard Petty serves as the Club’s Ambassador, and former Cup Title victor Matt Kenseth joined the team in October as a Competition Advisor. Collectively, Johnson, Petty, and Kenseth boast an impressive 15 Titles, complemented by a growing team of skilled personnel.
Legacy Motor Club participates in the Cup Series with two full-time entries. Erik Jones, entering his fourth full-time season, drives the No. 43, while teammate John Hunter Nemechek takes the No. 42 seat in his first year with the team and second full-time year in the Cup Series, his first since 2020.
Co-owner Jimmie Johnson, having retired from full-time Cup Series competition in 2020 and raced part-time last season, is set to participate in a minimum of nine races for the team. This includes iconic events such as the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, where he will drive the No. 84, a reversal of the numbers from his well-known No. 48 ride with Hendrick Motorsports.
CHANGES TO THE TEAM
Over the past 13 months, Legacy Motor Club underwent significant transformations. Initially, the team name shifted from the former “Petty GMS Motorsports.” In May of the previous year, the team disclosed its transition in Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), moving from Chevrolet to Toyota for the 2024 season. Furthermore, Dollar Tree and its subsidiary, Family Dollar, entered into a multi-year sponsorship deal as new sponsors. Notably, NASCAR suspended and subsequently saw the departure of former driver Noah Gragson in August.
In addition to these changes, Maury Gallagher’s ARCA team ceased operations for the 2023 season, and the Craftsman Truck Series teams closed their doors at the end of the previous year. These leadership and organizational adjustments set the stage for an eagerly anticipated 2024 season, marked by the inclusion of Trevor Bayne and Corey Heim.
Trevor Bayne, the new Driver Optimization Leader, brings his expertise as an analyst on FOX’s “NASCAR Race Hub.” With experience in three Xfinity Series races last season and a history of starts across all three of NASCAR’s premier series, Bayne gained recognition in 2011 as the youngest Daytona 500 winner, achieving the feat just one day after his 20th birthday.
Corey Heim takes on the role of Legacy Motor Club’s Simulator and Reserve Driver. At 21 years old, Heim boasts victories in nine ARCA Menards Series races and five Craftsman Truck Series races with Tricon Garage. Although contending for the Series Championship, he finished fourth in points following an incident with Carson Hocevar while leading. Heim is set to return to full-time competition with Tricon Garage in the upcoming season.
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