Legacy Motor Club Watkins Glen Preview: Can Jimmie Johnson and Team Make History at The Glen?

The Legacy Motor Club Watkins Glen preview sees NASCAR Cup Series competition intensifying as Jimmie Johnson, co-owner and veteran driver, prepares to return to one of his favorite circuits alongside his dynamic team. With proven experience and recent efforts in road course improvement, Legacy Motor Club aims to break new ground and potentially make history at Watkins Glen International on August 10.

Jimmie Johnson’s Track Record at Watkins Glen

Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, boasts a lengthy and impressive presence at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Across 18 Cup Series starts, Johnson has finished as high as third place twice, specifically in August 2007 and August 2012. His efforts on the New York road course include four top-five finishes, eight top-10s, and 18 laps led. In NASCAR Xfinity Series action, Johnson made four starts at The Glen, with his last outing resulting in a close second-place finish in August 2011, when he started sixth and trailed winner Kurt Busch by just under one second.

Matt Kenseth’s Contributions as Competition Advisor

Matt Kenseth, now serving as Legacy Motor Club’s competition advisor, also has a robust history at The Glen. Over 19 Cup Series starts, Kenseth managed a best finish of second in August 2017, after climbing through the field from 15th on the grid and finishing less than half a second behind Martin Truex Jr. Kenseth accrued two top-five and eight top-10 results, having led three laps at the circuit. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, his six starts yielded two top-fives and three top-10s, with his best result being third in August 2008.

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Legacy and Influence: Richard Petty at The Glen

Richard Petty, a seven-time Cup Series Champion and Legacy Motor Club ambassador, is another legendary figure associated with Watkins Glen. Petty competed in eight Cup races at the road course, his standout performance coming in 1991 when he finished ninth after beginning the race from 31st position.

Modern Drivers: Road Course Performance Spotlight

John Hunter Nemechek made his Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen just last August, where he started back in 35th place and advanced to finish 21st. In Xfinity Series action, Nemechek participated in two races at the iconic road course and achieved a personal best of sixth in 2023. He also raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at The Glen, starting from sixth and crossing the line second under a caution period.

About his prospects this weekend, John Hunter Nemechek shared,

“I’m looking forward to going back to Watkins Glen. It’s probably one of my favorite road courses that we go to on the NASCAR schedule. It should be a good weekend for us. I feel like we’ve been able to find speed in our road course cars here from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB over the last few months. I’m looking forward to hopefully a really solid weekend and trying to be there at the end for a win.”

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver

Crew Chiefs: Tactics and Experience at The Glen

Travis Mack, serving as a crew chief for Legacy Motor Club, will guide his team through his fourth Cup Series event at Watkins Glen. Mack debuted in 2021 with Daniel Suarez, and their best finish together came in 2022, with a fifth place. In 2023, Mack qualified on pole and finished second with Shane Van Gisbergen, highlighting his growth and adaptability on road courses. Mack’s two Xfinity Series outings at Watkins Glen with Michael Annett resulted in finishes of 17th and eighth.

Mack addressed preparations for the event, stating,

“We’ve been putting a lot of work into our road course package, so we’re confident heading into Watkins Glen. Tire wear might be more of a factor with the softer compound and warmer temperatures, but we’ve seen lots of progress in our road course cars this season, so I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

Travis Mack, Crew Chief

Meanwhile, Ben Beshore brings three Cup Series crew chief experiences at Watkins Glen, with a best result of fourth in his debut with Kyle Busch in 2021. In the 2023 Xfinity Series race, Beshore led John Hunter Nemechek to a sixth-place finish.

Beshore analyzed the upcoming challenge by explaining,

“I feel like as a team we’ve been 50/50 on road courses this year. Mexico and Chicago performance-wise went okay. We had some issues during the races, but we had some speed. Then we really struggled at COTA and Sonoma. I think Watkins Glen is a little bit different style of road course from the others though. It’s a more high-speed road course over the very technical ones like Sonoma or Chicago. There’s a little bit more emphasis on aerodynamics rather than straight up forward drive. It’s a little bit different from that standpoint. Strategy-wise – you can do it a couple different ways at Watkins Glen. I think you’ll see most guys try to short pit both stages and then pit sometime early in the fuel window that final stage. You may even have some guys who try to do it on a two-stop strategy where you pit at the end of Stage 1 and then run it out to your fuel window at Lap 55 or so. Tires do fall of a little bit more than they have in the past there due to the softer tire. It’s kind of a coin flip on what’s going to be the best strategy there. It just kind of depends on how the cautions fall. Sometimes I wish we had a crystal ball so we could see how it would play out, but you have to anticipate what to do in every situation. It’ll also be key to see how the tires fall off during practice since it’ll be on the warmer side this weekend. Tires might be a bigger deal than they have been in the past.”

Ben Beshore, Crew Chief

Erik Jones: Pursuit of a Strong Finish at Watkins Glen

Erik Jones is set for his eighth NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, bringing with him a record that includes two top-five results and four top-10s. Jones achieved his personal best by finishing fourth in August 2019 after starting from 14th. His experience extends to the Xfinity Series, where his highest result was eighth in 2017, and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, finishing 19th in 2018 after leading laps from deep in the field.

Reflecting on the Greene road course’s unpredictable nature, Jones noted,

“Watkins Glen is always kind of a wild card. I’ve run well there in the Cup Series in the past, but we haven’t quite been able to get those top-10 finishes the past two years. With the speed we’ve had on road courses this summer though, I think you could see us up there competing for a strong finish this weekend. We were fast in Mexico and Chicago, and then dropped off a little at Sonoma. We’ve been working hard on our road course program, so I’m excited to see what the teams can bring to the track this weekend.”

Erik Jones, Driver

Recent Initiatives and Notable Appearances

Legacy Motor Club’s presence at Watkins Glen this year incorporates more than just racing. John Hunter Nemechek is participating in a special single barrel cask release at Finger Lakes Distilling Company, in celebration of his car number 42. The limited edition bottles will be available at a discounted price during the event. Additionally, Nemechek will be meeting fans at the NASCAR Classics merchandise stand on race weekend.

Erik Jones’ commitment to animal welfare continues with the launch of his Oscar Jones collectible plush, inspired by his German Shepherd and produced in partnership with Ultimate Canine, LLC. A share of sales supports the Erik Jones Foundation’s mission in animal welfare, building on more than $40,000 in grants since the organization’s inception in 2021. The plush toy can be purchased online or at the racetrack merchandise hauler.

Before heading to New York, Jones competed in the ASA Midwest Tour late model race at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, alongside fellow Michigan-native Carson Hocevar. Jones’ long-standing connection to late model racing included a previous win at the Milwaukee Mile.

Co-owner Jimmie Johnson is also keeping fans engaged off-track, via a weekly podcast called Never Settle with ESPN’s Marty Smith. Recorded at events like the Wyndham Championship, the podcast features a range of guests and can be accessed on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as well as major podcast outlets.

What to Expect: Race Day Details

This year’s Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International is scheduled for Sunday, August 10, with green flag set for 2 p.m. ET. Broadcast access is wide, with coverage on USA, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The event promises technical challenges as teams navigate strategy around tire wear due to softer rubber and potentially higher track temperatures. As both drivers and crew chiefs have emphasized, adaptability and road course innovation may determine who comes out on top.

Significance and Outlook for Legacy Motor Club

Legacy Motor Club’s pursuit of excellence at Watkins Glen centers on the cumulative experience of team members like Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Richard Petty, and the current driver lineup. The push for a breakthrough performance reflects both the intense competition in today’s NASCAR Cup Series and the determination to build on momentum from recent road course gains. As the team heads into one of the calendar’s most iconic races, historical achievements and present ambitions converge—leaving Legacy Motor Club’s drivers and fans eager to see if 2024 becomes a chapter for the record books at The Glen.

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