Legacy Motor Club, after facing a challenging 2024, has made a remarkable comeback for the 2025 season with major behind-the-scenes contributions from Matt Kenseth. The team’s transformation, known as the Legacy Motor Club 2025 Revival, took root through internal shake-ups and expert guidance, setting Jimmie Johnson’s organization on a new path in NASCAR competition.
Strategic Moves Lay the Foundation for Change
The reshaping of Legacy Motor Club began in earnest after the completion of the 2024 campaign. The organization, led by Jimmie Johnson, shifted from Chevrolet to Toyota and brought in critical new leadership, including Jacob Canter as Director of Competition and Bobby Kennedy as General Manager. These steps were taken to support the switch to Toyota, demanding major adaptation for the team. The overhaul did not happen overnight, but incremental progress became evident as the season unfolded, hinting at a more competitive future for the club and its drivers.
A pivotal factor in the Legacy Motor Club 2025 Revival has been the arrival of Matt Kenseth as competition advisor. Kenseth, a past Cup Series champion with 39 career victories, seamlessly transitioned from rival to mentor, guiding both Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, and taking an active role in the team’s engineering and strategy discussions. His hands-on approach in meetings and unique ability to inspire athletes has sparked noticeable improvements in preparation and performance, both in and out of the car.
Erik Jones’ Turnaround: From Adversity to Consistency
Erik Jones, once a competitor to Kenseth, has benefited substantially from his mentorship. Their relationship, previously marked by tension after Jones replaced Kenseth at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018, has evolved into a partnership focused on growth. Together, their extensive training routines—sometimes involving runs up to four miles—are a reflection of the discipline and attention to detail underpinning the team’s progress.
Jones, now well-known for his training consistency, highlighted the physical demands of the sport:
“I think I’m in the best shape I’ve been in through racing,”
—Erik Jones, Driver
He further explained the toll of a full NASCAR schedule on competitors as they age:
“Thirty-six to 38 races per year is hard on your body. When you’re 20 years old, it’s easy to hop in a car and go and feel good about everything. When you’re on the backside of 20, it’s not as easy to recover, not as easy to get through some of these days.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
Kenseth himself addressed their history, displaying professionalism and focusing on progress:
“It’s not like the driver did it, or he was the owner and let me go.”
—Matt Kenseth, Competition Advisor
The renewed alliance has yielded tangible results on the track. Jones has achieved six consecutive top-20 finishes and secured a fifth-place at EchoPark Speedway during the Quaker State 400, inching into 16th in the standings and matching Austin Cindric’s point total. The success at Talladega Superspeedway stands out as a defining moment, reflecting both Jones’s driving ability and the impact of Kenseth’s advice and preparation strategies. These signs of synergy highlight the importance of experience and adaptive leadership in professional racing.
A Calculated Bet for Long-Term Success
Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Club deliberately chose a challenging journey over short-term rewards. Unlike teams like 23XI Racing, which leverage technical alliances with established organizations such as Joe Gibbs Racing, LMC charted its own path. By reducing dependence on external support and opting for steady internal development, the team hoped to create a sustainable model for future competitiveness—and early results show their bet is paying off.
With notable races and nine top-10 finishes split between Jones and Nemechek this season, Legacy Motor Club has proven they’re closing the gap with top-tier teams like Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, and Joe Gibbs Racing. The progress stands as testimony to the blend of smart leadership and patience.
Matt Kenseth’s Honest Assessment of Progress
Despite the positive trajectory, Kenseth remains grounded about where the team stands in 2025. He noted the pace of improvement and emphasized the distance yet to travel:
“To be totally honest, we started the year not taking as big of a step forward as I expected or was hoping we would take. I feel like we took a pretty big leap within the last [seven or eight] weeks. We’ve had cars — both or one of them — that were capable of running in the top 10. I don’t know if we had cars last year capable of running in the top 10, but once or twice. It’s been a big leap, but there’s a long way to go to get to where we want to be.”
—Matt Kenseth, Competition Advisor
For an organization owned by a seven-time champion in Jimmie Johnson, consistent competition for NASCAR’s Bill France Cup is a reasonable expectation. However, achieving this goal in one of the most competitive motorsport series globally requires overcoming formidable opponents and ongoing internal evolution. With determined leadership and a renewed sense of purpose, the team has positioned itself as a future contender, powered by steady progress and the strategic wisdom of its storied advisor.
The Path Forward: Challenges and High Hopes
Legacy Motor Club’s model centers around building resilience, using adversity as motivation, and learning from every setback. The partnership between Matt Kenseth, key figures like Jacob Canter and Bobby Kennedy, and dedicated drivers such as Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek has instilled fresh energy throughout the organization. While the club may not yet rival the long-established giants, their steady climb, marked by strategic moves and notable results, signals an impending challenge to the NASCAR elite.
The 2025 season could mark a turning point not only for Legacy Motor Club, but also for how new teams approach growth and adaptation in modern NASCAR. As the club continues to refine its processes and strengthen its core, industry observers and fans alike will be watching closely. The journey toward championship contention is far from complete, yet under Matt Kenseth’s subtle but substantial guidance, the Legacy Motor Club 2025 Revival is well underway, promising a future that could reshape the sport’s competitive landscape.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Who is the CEO of Legacy Motor Club?
A. Overall, this is a significant step for Toyota as a company. They now have more Cup cars and could increase Truck rides for their emerging drivers. Legacy MC feels that building a stronger relationship with their manufacturer will help them compete for more victories.
Q. Who is the owner of Legacy Motor Club?
A. Legacy Motor Club was previously called Petty GMS Motorsports. It’s an American stock car racing team owned by Jimmie Johnson. Richard Petty, Maury Gallagher, and Knighthead Capital Management have smaller ownership shares.
Q. Is Richard Petty still involved in Legacy Motor Club?
A. Previously known as Petty GMS Motorsports, Legacy Motor Club entered the Cup Series in 2022. This happened after Gallagher acquired most of Richard Petty’s organization. Before the 2023 season began, the team received a new name. Johnson became part of the ownership, while Petty took on the role of team ambassador.
