John Hunter Nemechek delivered a standout performance by securing his first-ever top-five finish in the Cup Series at Darlington Raceway during Sunday night’s Southern 500, placing Legacy Motor Club in the spotlight. Nemechek’s fourth-place result, paired with teammate Erik Jones finishing third, marked a significant achievement for the team in a challenging event where many playoff drivers struggled.
Strong Performances from Legacy Motor Club Drivers
Erik Jones managed his second consecutive top-five—a feat he last accomplished in 2020—underscoring the team’s ongoing improvements this season. He expressed his mixed emotions about coming close to an even better finish, stating,
“It’s disappointing, number one, to be that close,”
but added,
“but, number two, it’s encouraging to have that speed.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
For Nemechek, the Southern 500 was particularly meaningful, as he reached personal and team milestones. Reflecting on his run, he said,
“I wish we had more laps,”
and shared,
“The more that I ran, the better that I was.”
—John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Sunday’s results marked the first time since the Daytona 500 that both Legacy Motor Club cars finished in the top five in a single Cup Series event. Nemechek emphasized his pride in the group’s effort, stating,
“Proud of the effort from everyone at Legacy Motor Club,”
and elaborated,
“We continue to get better. It is pretty cool to have the 42 and 43 (Jones) to finish in third and fourth at the Southern 500. I know I’m proud of the drive for myself. I’m proud of the effort. I’m proud of Travis (Mack, crew chief), and everyone that has been putting a lot into our Pye Barker Toyotas and making them faster.”
—John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Legacy Motor Club’s Steady Progress
The impressive results at Darlington reflect over a year of determined work for Legacy Motor Club, which underwent key personnel adjustments in its bid to become more competitive in the Cup Series. Jacob Canter, director of competition, commented on the team’s growth:
“I think it’s just a statement, a testament to this team and this group and what we’re building,”
and further noted,
“… It’s all about our group, our team, our people and trying to empower them to be the best version of themselves. (Team owner) Jimmie (Johnson) has his podcast ‘Never Settle.’ We kind of take that mantra of just always trying to get better and just really building this team in a methodical fashion.”
—Jacob Canter, Director of Competition
The payoff has started to show, with Legacy Motor Club navigating the intensity of the Southern 500 without issues that plagued multiple playoff teams. Both Nemechek and Jones avoided trouble and executed consistently across 367 laps.
Looking Back at Recent Challenges and Moving Forward
Recent events highlight the team’s ability to respond to setbacks, such as Erik Jones’ strong qualifying effort at Indianapolis and subsequent crash due to a wheel failure. At Darlington, Jones’ crew executed nine pit stops with reliability, setting the stage for his top finish. Jones remarked,
“It was nice to come here with similar speed (to Indy) and have a smooth night, a good night,”
and concluded,
“We needed to qualify probably a little better to really contend, but we did everything else really well. So, hopefully that’s a good sign.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
With their momentum at Darlington, Legacy Motor Club and the standout performance from John Hunter Nemechek suggest that the team’s hard work and recent changes are making a measurable impact. Their success has energized the organization and increased expectations for continued progress in upcoming races.
