As the racing world turns its attention to Bristol Motor Speedway for the highly anticipated Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Legacy Motor Club brings a rich history and renewed determination to the starting grid. This Legacy Motor Club Bristol Race Preview covers the impressive records and preparation of team luminaries and competitors as they seek glory on the challenging half-mile oval this weekend.
Legacy Motor Club’s Storied History at Bristol
Few teams carry as much expectation into Bristol as Legacy Motor Club, whose deep roster includes racing legends with decades of collective Cup Series experience. Co-owner Jimmie Johnson, a driver with seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, has long treated Bristol as a theater for excellence. He counts 38 Cup starts at the Tennessee track, accumulating two wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 22 top-10s, alongside an impressive 914 laps led. Johnson’s first trip to Bristol victory lane came in March 2010 at the Food City 500, where he surged from fourth on the grid, leading 84 circuits to edge Tony Stewart by 0.894 seconds. A second Bristol triumph arrived in April 2017, when Johnson started 11th and led 81 laps, ultimately crossing the finish with a 1.199-second advantage over Clint Bowyer. Beyond the Cup, Johnson’s Bristol outings extend to four starts in the Xfinity Series, peaking with a fourth-place run in March 2001, as well as a lone Truck Series attempt in 2008 that ended prematurely due to an incident after leading 29 laps.
The expertise fueling the team also comes from seasoned competition advisor Matt Kenseth. Matching Johnson with 38 Cup starts at Bristol, Kenseth’s dominance includes four victories, 15 top-fives, and 22 top-10s while amassing 1,583 laps at the front. His debut Cup victory at the track arrived at the August 2005 night contest, starting from pole and controlling a staggering 415 of the 500 laps to barely beat Jeff Burton. Kenseth’s mastery extended to repeat night race wins, including another in 2005 and additional victories in 2013 and 2015, each showcasing tactical brilliance and raw speed. As a Bristol mainstay in the Xfinity Series, Kenseth boasts three wins and 11 top-fives from 18 starts, cementing his reputation as an all-surface contender.
Another cornerstone of Legacy Motor Club is ambassador Richard Petty, known to fans as “The King.” Petty’s history at Bristol dates back to 1961, with a staggering 60 Cup races yielding three wins, 26 top-fives, and 37 top-10s, supported by leading over 2,200 laps around the high-banked oval. Petty’s first Bristol win came from pole in July 1967 after leading 225 laps, followed by two more victories in 1975. His competitiveness has helped cement Bristol as a “driver’s track” revered for its intensity and ever-changing conditions.
Current Driver Lineup Poised for Night Race Success
As anticipation builds for Saturday night’s under-the-lights showdown, Legacy Motor Club’s current lineup, including John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones, has demonstrated strong form at Bristol and beyond. John Hunter Nemechek is set to pilot the No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE, building on the momentum of five Cup Series attempts on the concrete oval, where he recently posted a career-best sixth-place finish in March 2024. Nemechek has also shone in the Xfinity Series at Bristol, notching two third-place results in 2019 and 2023, and showing consistency in the Truck Series with five top-three finishes and a pole award in the 2021 dirt event.
Erik Jones, in the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE, enters the Bristol Night Race for his 15th Cup start at the venue. His Bristol Cup record includes four top-fives and five top-10s, with a highlight in August 2017 during his rookie season. In that memorable outing, Jones started from the pole and led 260 laps, ultimately finishing second to Kyle Busch after a hard-fought battle. Jones has also excelled in the Xfinity Series at Bristol, achieving three consecutive poles and bagging two victories—first in April 2016 and again in April 2017. In addition, Jones has one Truck Series start at the track, where he finished sixth in August 2015.
In supporting roles, the team draws on the strategic leadership of Travis Mack and Ben Beshore. Mack, crew chief for Nemechek, brings 10 previous Cup Series appearances at Bristol—seven on concrete, three on dirt—earning a best finish of fourth in March 2021 with Daniel Suárez on the dirt and navigating the tough circuit with several other drivers. In Xfinity Series competition, Mack’s partnership with Michael Annett earned three top-10 finishes and a best result of seventh in their Bristol debut.
Ben Beshore, calling the shots for Erik Jones, has five Cup Series starts as crew chief at Bristol’s concrete oval. His best finish came in March 2024 with Nemechek placing sixth. Beshore’s dirt prowess is also proven, having guided Kyle Busch to a Cup win in the 2022 Bristol dirt race. In the Xfinity Series, Beshore has seen his drivers finish in the top 10 in four of five Bristol races, with a best finish of third with Nemechek in September 2023.
Driver and Crew Insights Ahead of Bristol
John Hunter Nemechek expressed confidence in the team’s progress for the upcoming contest:
“I felt good at Bristol in the spring. I honestly thought we had a really solid race car. I’m looking forward to going back there with the changes that we’ve made and the things that we’ve found in our race car to hopefully go faster than we did in the spring.”
—John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Crew chief Travis Mack emphasized the attention surrounding this weekend’s unique tire situation and the team’s readiness to adapt as contenders:
“Bristol is going to be a big one for us. A lot of eyes are going to be on the racetrack for the new tire during the first practice session, and we’ll be ready to adjust for whatever we need. We’re ready to be contenders on Saturday night under the lights.”
—Travis Mack, Crew Chief
Erik Jones believes in the steady progress Legacy Motor Club has made on short tracks and his own capabilities at Bristol:
“We’ve improved on our short track program over the year as an organization. I think we’ll be decent at Bristol seeing the speed we had at St. Louis last weekend. We continue to improve everywhere, and Bristol has always been a decent track for me. Got some wins in Xfinity, as well as strong finishes in Truck and Cup. Trouble can find you fast a Bristol, so you have to be ready for anything. I’m confident in this No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota team though. Can’t wait to get up there.”
—Erik Jones, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Ben Beshore, looking ahead to the uncertainty introduced by a new tire compound, weighed in on strategy and car setup for the demanding track:
“It’s honestly hard to know this time around at Bristol. Heading into the weekend, there’s a new tire that’s supposed to be more of a higher fall of tire, so there’s a bit of a question mark there. We’ll just have to get into practice on Friday to see what we’ve got there. It may end up being more of a tire management type of race – not going too high early and trying to stick in the rubber. You might have to baby the tires for 10 to 15 laps and then go hard the rest of the way. Most of the time, a good car at Bristol is good on the bottom and the top. The top tends to come in halfway through the race and it’ll be the dominate line, but you still have to be able to work the bottom to get through traffic. So, you want to be able to work both grooves. You don’t want your car to be better in one versus the other. That’s how you have a good car at Bristol. It helps you navigate your way through the race and restarts.”
—Ben Beshore, Crew Chief
Legacy MC Presence Beyond the Track
Legacy Motor Club fans can get closer to the action with several special initiatives at Bristol this weekend. John Hunter Nemechek will make a scheduled appearance at the NASCAR Classics merchandise area to sign autographs at 3:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, September 13, giving fans a chance to meet one of the newest faces in the Legacy lineup.
Additionally, the team is boosting engagement off the track through media channels. Team co-owner Jimmie Johnson co-hosts the “Never Settle” podcast alongside ESPN’s Marty Smith, airing live every Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and available for download on top podcasting platforms, as well as on YouTube. The program gives listeners exclusive behind-the-scenes access and insights into Legacy Motor Club’s strategies—vital for fans wanting to go deeper into their Bristol approach.
What to Watch For at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race
This year’s Bristol event features several storylines to watch. The introduction of a new tire compound has added unpredictability to Saturday’s contest, leading teams to prioritize strategic adaptability during the initial practice sessions. For Legacy Motor Club, both their historic record and modern driver lineup offer reasons for optimism. The mix of Cup champions, emerging talent, and experienced crew members positions them well against a competitive field hungry for playoff advancement.
As the team aims to build on strong practices and historic performances, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race will be broadcast live from Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Coverage will be provided by USA, MAX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, bringing the excitement to fans across multiple platforms.
Legacy Motor Club’s Pursuit Continues
Legacy Motor Club’s deep Bristol legacy, strategic driver-crew pairings, and innovative off-track engagement reflect their unwavering commitment to success at one of NASCAR’s most legendary tracks. With a mix of past champions and rising stars, their efforts this weekend are certain to capture the attention of fans and rivals alike. The outcome at Bristol may help set the tone for the remainder of the season and reinforce Legacy Motor Club’s place among the sport’s elite organizations.
