Despite Racing Struggles, Jimmie Johnson and Co. Rejected Joe Gibbs’ Help to Trade Independence for Results

Legacy Motor Club’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season hasn’t gone well. Plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Jimmie Johnson-owned team announced it would be switching from the familiar Chevy to the Toyota Camry XSE before the season began. Combined with the fact that they refused to ally themselves with a well-established team like Joe Gibbs Racing to reap the technical advantages, it all seemed like a gamble.

The decision to do so showed not just a change in manufacturer allegiance but a shift towards total independence. However, it’s fair to say, that with a total of three top-10 finishes, 4 DNFs, and just 20 laps led across three drivers, Legacy Motor Club’s decision to not collaborate with Joe Gibbs Racing has hindered their progress this season.

What is Jimmie Johnson’s long-term vision for Legacy Motor Club?

It was never going to be easy. Opting to become one of the eight stand-alone teams within the Toyota ecosystem meant that there would be significant short-term hurdles that Legacy Motor Club would have had to overcome this season. However, the decision to keep their autonomy was more in alignment with their long-term vision for the team, especially for Legacy Motor Club co-owner Maury Gallagher.

A technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing would have certainly helped with results this season, as Legacy Motor Club would be guaranteed a more competitive car. However, alliances like these are fairly straightforward, and while a collaboration between the two teams would have certainly been an expensive option for Legacy Motor Club, the team was always geared towards their independence, even if it would come at the expense of short-term results.

Recently, Bob Pockrass was asked on X, “What is going on with Legacy? Both cars struggling mightily and not showing any improvement from week to week. Is this just figuring out Toyota or something bigger?”

Describing how Legacy Motor Club is working on building their foundations, Bob Pockrass replied, “A little bit of both. Legacy still working on getting its processes right to come to the track up to speed. It decided to do it on its own rather than align with JGR so all its info is kept in-house. But they knew that could mean slower development to be fast.”

If the past is anything to go by, Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher will have learned that long-term results are best achieved without the dependency of a bigger, more successful team. In an interview with Jimmie Johnson, the Legacy Motor Club co-owner said, “He (Maury Gallagher) really believes in this process and wants us to rise to the occasion and create our own entity with the support of Toyota, of course.” Regardless of their decision, the time now is for Legacy Motor Club to strengthen its foundations with a sustainable, long-term approach.

Fans react to Legacy Motor Club’s strategy

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Furniture Row Racing partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2016 to build the team’s chassis and help support the pit crew. With the team performing well and winning the championship, Joe Gibbs Racing felt that the deal was undervalued and asked for an increase in the range of $10–$12 million, three to four times the sum that Furniture Row Racing was already paying.

The increased fee for the alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing eventually forced Furniture Row Racing to shut down. Justifying Legacy Motor Club’s approach with this, a fan wrote, “After watching Furniture Row and Leavine Family go out of business, following their JGR partnerships, I can’t say I blame them.”

Another fan used Furniture Row Racing as an example as well, backing Legacy Motor Club’s slow but long-term sustainable approach as the only viable option. The user wrote on X, “But they knew that could mean slower development to be fast. They did not have a choice here. Really. What choice did they have? Align with JGR like Furniture Row and get screwed when you have a little success? Nope. No sane team would ever align with JGR again, aside from 23XI who is a) under Gibb’s thumb anyway because of Hamlin and b) has Jordan whose net worth makes Joe Gibbs net worth look like it’s just walkin-around money.”

While someone in the comments appreciated Jimmie Johnson for his strategy, the fan wrote, “JJ playing the long game, love it.” Another fan suggested a possible crew member swap for success, “Need something at happen at LMS soon crew chief swap possibly with Erik and Dave and I know Maury can’t be happy with the direction of the team he is the majority share holder he likes winning and team racing in top 15.”

With just three top-10 finishes between Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones, and John Nemechek, Legacy Motor Club fans know that the road to their team being competitive again will be long. One fan asked NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass for an estimated timeline for when they would have a competitive car. The fan wrote, “@bobpockrass At what point is it realistic for them to “catch up”? By the end of the year? In time for next year? Or are they multiple years away from being competitive?”