Its clear by now that Legacy Motor Club is not doing what they set out to in 2024. Jimmie Johnson revealed that he is working on changes within the team to get the formula right; however, so far, it has not been working in his favor. After taking away John Hunter Nemechek’s crew chief to support Erik Jones, the No. 42 driver had Brian Campe as his crew chief.
Although the focus was on improving Erik Jones’s performance, Nemechek proved that he was not going to go down easily, but the final say is not up to him. At Homestead, when the 42 Toyota driver finished 26th, many were unhappy with his result and that started off some rumors around the infield.
Rumors state that John Hunter Nemechek’s time is up
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The No. 42 car has managed to get 4 top-10 finishes in the 2024 season. However, that is not enough to turn how things are going for Legacy Motor Club. The team that rebranded from the formerly known Petty GMS Motorsports has a strong legacy. It’s co-owner is one of the most decorated drivers in the sport. But by the way, the situation looks like they need to change things up.
Ever since Jimmie Johnson joined the team as the co-owner, LMC brought many changes to the team. One of the biggest ones was changing their manufacturer from Chevrolet to Toyota. With a new car for the drivers to pilot, Johnson believed that was all the team needed. Earlier this month, the team decided to replace Dave Elenz as Erik Jones’s crew chief, while JHN’s crew chief Ben Beshore was assigned to No. 43.
Now that the team has taken away Beshore, fans have started to believe that the team is more focused on Erik Jones than giving JHN the resources he needs to have a better season. Because of all the recent resultless changes, one fan pointed out a possibility of Corey Heim replacing Nemechek. Heim is a full-time driver in the Craftsman Truck Series at the moment.
Currently, Corey Heim is driving for the No. 11 Tricon Garage team and his performance in his respective series is extremely impressive. Heim has already secured 6 wins and with 13 top-5 finishes, he stands out of the competition. Although he has proved himself in the Truck Series, he has never competed in the Xfinity Series as a full-time driver, let alone the Cup Series.
— db #FREEJHN🐡 (@kensethology) October 28, 2024
The Georgie Native did make his Cup Series debut this year as Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing gave him a chance to race. For LMC, Heim replaced Erik Jones in the No. 43 at Dover and Kansas. However, in both races, the 27-year-old driver had an unimpressive 20+ position finish. While these might not be the most impressive stats, it’s important to note that the more experienced LMC drivers often finished at similar ranks this season. Considering that Heim is a reserve driver for the team, seeing him take over the full-time seat may not be a far-fetched idea.
It is unsure if the rumors are true and until there is an official announcement, it’s best to take this with a pinch of salt. LMC needs to figure out what they need to change to make them competitive, as so far they haven’t shown results.
Legacy Motor Club’s recent pit stop mishap
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Legacy Motor Club has been in the crossfire of making massive changes within the team and still has not had results. However, things got worse when two vital pit crew members from LMC faced suspensions after a significant blunder at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The incident involved John Rosselli, the front tire changer, and Kellen Mills, the jackman for Erik Jones’s No. 43 Toyota.
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During a routine pit stop on lap 70, a wheel came loose and flew off Jones’s car, leading to an embarrassing and costly mishap. As Jones limped back to the pits, the repercussions became evident. The team received a two-lap penalty, ultimately capping off the day with a disheartening 25th-place finish.
NASCAR’s strict regulations came into play quickly, handing down automatic two-week suspensions to Rosselli and Mills for their roles in the incident. The only silver lining for them is that they’ll be eligible to return just in time for the high-stakes season finale at Phoenix Raceway, where every point counts.
The fallout didn’t stop there. NASCAR’s commitment to safety and precision was further stressed when three Xfinity Series teams received fines for lug nut infractions during Saturday’s race. Crew chiefs from Cole Custer, Jeb Burton, and Kyle Sieg’s teams were each hit with $5,000 fines, showcasing how serious NASCAR is about maintaining standards in the pit lane.
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Looking at the way things are going for Legacy Motor Club, do you think that they will turn their season around? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Is Jimmie Johnson's leadership at Legacy Motor Club failing to deliver the promised results?
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Is Jimmie Johnson's leadership at Legacy Motor Club failing to deliver the promised results?
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