When the checkered flag flew over the Daytona 500 this year, few would have predicted that Legacy Motor Club would struggle as they have in the Cup Series. After all, both Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek had finished in the top 10 in one of NASCAR’s biggest races. The team had shifted their allegiance from Chevrolet to Toyota, and that transition appeared as smooth as it gets. However, the result of the opening day of the 2024 season couldn’t have been more misleading.

Fast forward to the present day, and the result at Daytona International Speedway remains Jones’ only top-10 finish. With John Hunter Nemechek continuing to struggle and wholesale changes being made to the No. 84 team, the season has only gone from bad to worse for Legacy Motor Club.

Statistics pose an unflattering look for Erik Jones

Erik Jones’ future at Legacy Motor Club has been under scrutiny for a while. The 28-year-old doesn’t have a contract with Jimmie Johnson’s team with 2025, and poor results this season haven’t helped his case. The former Joe Gibbs Racing driver was linked as a replacement for Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota until Chase Briscoe earned the spot. As things stand, there are not many alternatives that Jones can consider, if he is let go by Legacy Motor Club.

Erik Jones is one of only three Cup Series drivers who has not led a single lap all season. With no wins, top-five finishes, poles, and two DNFs, it has been a season to forget for the No. 43 Toyota driver. He has been associated with the team since 2021 when they were named Richard Petty Motorsports and Petty GMS Motorsports before Jimmie Johnson’s takeover resulted in rebranding in 2023.

While speculation continues about Jones’ future, FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass believes that the 28-year-old will remain at Legacy Motor Club next season. He said, “I think Erik Jones remains at Legacy for next year. When JGR had the 19 openings, it seemed like that was a possibility but with Briscoe there, think Jones stays. You ask about the contract but Corey LaJoie had a contract with Spire for next year and now can see how that worked out.”

If Legacy Motor Club wants to see improvements next season, they will need Toyota to step up their game. Both Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek have struggled this season, and their cars have played a big role in results so far. The team switched allegiance from Chevrolet at the beginning of the 2024 season, after Jimmie Johnson accused the car manufacturer of treating Legacy Motor Club like a tier-three team while showing preference for Hendrick Motorsports.

Despite being a Toyota team now, Legacy Motor Club doesn’t have a technical alliance with 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. With a long-term strategy in mind, the team retains its individuality, having built its aero, tire, and simulation departments and pit crews. Despite undergoing a major team overhaul recently, which has seen Jimmie Johnson’s former crew chief Jason Burdett, and much of the No. 84 Toyota Camry crew losing their jobs, Legacy Motor Club continues to keep a long-term outlook, despite results not going their way.

Jimmie Johnson and John Hunter Nemechek continue to struggle

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While much has been speculated about Erik Jones, the 28-year-old is currently Legacy Motor Club’s best performer in the Cup Series. As things stand, the No. 84 driver is four spots higher than teammate John Hunter Nemechek, who has secured three top-ten results and led 36 laps so far. However, five DNFs already in just 22 races have affected his rank, and with four regular-season races to go, that number could only get higher.

As for Jimmie Johnson, the 48-year-old has only competed in six races all season, finishing just four of them. He hasn’t finished higher than 28th, which could indicate why his crew chief, Jason Burdett, along with much of his No. 84 crew, have lost their jobs. The decision to do so indicates that Johnson plans to use Legacy Motor Club’s third car differently, and that’s exactly what the seven-time Cup Series champion said.

Speaking about his plan to use Legacy Motor Club’s third car, Jimmie Johnson said, “I want to race, but I don’t want the third car to be a detriment to the other two. The revenue we generate can help us use the third car to develop new talent and can help us develop new setup ideas. But when you run nine races, you need a pretty robust crew to run that car and that’s inefficient for only nine races. If you take it down to three to five races, you don’t need that crew but then you’re pulling against the number 42 and 43 cars, so we’re trying to find that balance.”

While Legacy Motor Club continues to make changes to turn their fortunes around, Erik Jones will hope for a contract extension to cement his future in the team. In the absence of a technical alliance, the team has employed a long-term strategy, which will have plenty of hurdles along the way. If Legacy Motor Club aims to have a better 2025 season, they must demand more from Toyota and their drivers going forward. Time will tell if Jimmie Johnson’s strategy for the team pays off.

Do you think Erik Jones should receive a contract extension at Legacy Motor Club? Let us know in the comments!