The 2024 Cup Series wasn’t too kind to Legacy Motor Club. Their appearances were mostly noticed when drivers like John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones crashed out. However, it’s not that the team lacks the drive to level up or is content with staying out of the front tier. Exceptional support from OEMs to top-tier teams leads the way for this struggle. Jimmie Johnson saw it and adopted a new OEM. Let’s just say it didn’t meet expectations.

For new teams, acceptance is significant and at the moment LMC needs someone who would treat them as the star of the show. Recently, Dale Jr. discussed it on his podcast, pin-pointing the changes after thorough observations. But, all these changes look up to Jimmie Johnson’s green flag.

Johnson might have to make some tough choices to revamp the team

Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club recently ended its Chevrolet alliance and chose Toyota instead. While the aspirations were high for the season, it did not quite pan out well. But why didn’t it work out? The existing OEMs are at the moment overburdened and they have too many teams lined up. Consequently, the focus is always on the top shelve teams to ensure that they get the best of resources. While Toyota currently has only two teams signed up with it other than LMC, the focus is always on replacing Chevy. 

In such a situation, the incoming of a new OEM could be quite rewarding. For the longest time, NASCAR has been speculative about their OEM game and there has been a consensus that this is the season that a new OEM will enter. One name that was chorusing among the insiders was Honda. But after Honda and Nissan’s merger did not go through, things have been topsy-turvy. Speaking of how Jimmie Johnson should rely on this move, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “If you’re a new OEM, you’re going to have interest from people who don’t have Charters—people who want to get into the sport or become Cup teams. You’re also going to have interest from guys who are third or fourth in line at other OEMs….I could absolutely see Jimmy going with a new OEM.” 

This sounds quite legitimate considering the run last season. It clearly reflects the LMC’s current OEM does not share the concerns of the team. They are not among the top priorities of  Toyota. Hence, there are no specialized action plans in place to make the vehicles more amiable toward Nemechek and Jones’ strengths. 

The team’s first stint with the new OEM failed miserably. John Hunter Nemechek’s season with the #42 of the team was anything but smooth, managing just four top-10 finishes. He ended the year with a deplorable P34. Additionally, Erik Jones showed flashes of consistency. His fifth-place finish at Talladega in the fall was the lone bright spot. As a two-time Southern 500 winner, watching Jones struggle to find speed in his car was a tough sight for fans.

Sizing up the situation right, Dale Jr. further added, “If they [new OEM] come in and say, ‘We want to make you our top dog. We’ll give you the resources to become what you want to be,’ I think that would interest him. I give Jimmy a hard time…..but if he were to find and acquire the same resources that the top teams get at Chevy, Toyota, and Ford, he could develop his team into a successful organization.”  Jimmie Johnson in an interview had spoken about how they are at a team-building phase and commitment to Toyota is for the longer run. He said, “We couldn’t have tried any harder this year. It’s just part of the journey, is probably the best way to put it. I think this year has been a very transformational year for us. We won’t have a great sense of the change until we get into probably March of next year.”

Joining a new OEM could be a winning move, as they would be deeply invested in the entire R&D process. The engines would be customized to enhance the team’s performance, maximizing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses. However, with no clear consensus on who the new OEM will be, or if there will be one at all, LMC will have to rely on Toyota for now.

Earnhardt Jr shares his take on his team’s Daytona 500 appearance 

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. along with his sister Kelly Earnhardt are owners of the JR Motorsports. The team currently functions at the Xfinity level. With four full-time drivers in the national series and an impressive track record of four championships since its debut in 2005, his team has built a reputation for success. But now, the team is gearing up for something even bigger. They are all set to appear for the first-ever shot at the Cup Series for the Daytona 500 weekend.

Speaking of the opportunity ahead, Dale Jr. said, “It’s still sinking in. I did tell Kelley (his sister) that I wanted to be present for all the moments. …I want to be involved or at least a witness to everything.” He further added, “ I’m going to be on pit road when the car is pushed out for qualifying. I’ll be there when it’s going out for practice. I’ll be there when they unload it on Wednesday at the race track. I want to go through tech. I want to see everything…but I’m approaching this like it’s a one and only opportunity, a dream come true.”

If the team has to make it to the main event, No. 40 driver, Justin Allgaier needs to qualify first. Do you think Allgaier will be able to justify his entry?