The Legacy Motor Club race preview highlights the team’s veteran leadership and driver readiness as they gear up for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, known as “The Magic Mile.” With past winners like Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth involved, and current drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones bringing recent momentum, the stage is set for a captivating motorsports weekend in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Legacy Motor Club’s Veterans Carry Winning Pedigree to New Hampshire
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club’s co-owner and a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, brings a storied history to New Hampshire with 35 career starts at this track. Johnson has three Cup Series victories here, accompanied by 10 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes, and he’s led a total of 323 laps in his Granite State appearances. His win record began in July 2003 when he started from sixth, leading 58 laps and securing victory over Kevin Harvick. He followed that up with another win in September 2003, starting eighth and ultimately besting Ricky Rudd. Johnson’s last win at the track was recorded in June 2010, where he started 10th and narrowly finished ahead of Tony Stewart. Beyond the Cup, Johnson also competed at New Hampshire in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, posting a 13th-place finish twice in the early 2000s.
In addition to Johnson’s accolades, Matt Kenseth, serving as competition advisor for Legacy Motor Club, brings valuable insight and a track record of success. Kenseth has logged 38 NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire, tallying three victories himself. His first win came in September 2013 after leading 106 laps, with follow-up triumphs in September 2015 and July 2016. Kenseth’s background in the NASCAR Xfinity Series includes nine New Hampshire starts and a 2004 victory where he crossed the line ahead of Tim Fedewa.
Honoring Jimmie Johnson’s 50th Birthday Abroad
This year marks a special milestone for Jimmie Johnson, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on September 17. Johnson, originally from El Cajon, California, commemorated the occasion in the United Kingdom during the Goodwood Revival race weekend, where he was joined by friends, family, and former INDYCAR colleagues—including Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Dario Franchitti. This international celebration underlines Johnson’s ongoing influence and broad racing network as he continues to make his mark both on and off the track.
John Hunter Nemechek: Building Momentum at The Magic Mile
John Hunter Nemechek, piloting the No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE, brings a developing resume to New Hampshire. With two NASCAR Cup Series races at this venue, Nemechek achieved his best finish—eighth place—in his second career start at Loudon in 2024. His background in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is highlighted by a 2023 victory at New Hampshire, where he dominated by leading 137 of the 200 laps and finished ahead of Chandler Smith by less than half a second. That season, New Hampshire marked his fourth win out of seven total. Nemechek’s success extends to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he notched three top-10 finishes in four races at this location, including two fifth-place results in 2014 and 2015.
Reflecting on his recent performances and looking toward the upcoming race, Nemechek stated,
“I’ve had success at New Hampshire in the past. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year, but we ran really well on the wet track last year. It will be interesting to see how things shake out, but I’m confident heading into this weekend.”
– John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Travis Mack’s Approach: Strategy and Execution at Loudon
Crew Chief Travis Mack will oversee his sixth NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire this weekend. Mack’s first experience at the track came with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in September 2017; subsequent races saw him partner with Daniel Suárez through 2023, earning his highest New Hampshire finish of ninth in July 2022. Returning in July 2024, Mack and Ty Dillon secured a 20th-place finish. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Mack also led Michael Annett to an 11th-place effort in 2019. Mack’s philosophy for the race underscores the importance of adapting to track conditions and making sound tactical decisions. He commented,
“Track position and strategy will be key this weekend at Loudon, and we’ll be keeping eyes on the new tire fall off. If we execute well and John Hunter keeps being aggressive but smart, I’m confident we’ll have a shot there in the end.”
– Travis Mack, Crew Chief
Erik Jones Brings Experience to the Mobil 1 301
Erik Jones is set to start his 10th NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Mobil 1 301. Over nine previous starts, he has posted one top-five and two top-10 finishes, with his strongest performance coming in July 2019—starting and finishing third while leading briefly. Jones’s proficiency also spans one Xfinity Series race and two Truck Series events at the venue. He finished second after starting third in his only New Hampshire Xfinity Series run in 2016. In the Truck Series, Jones achieved back-to-back seventh-place finishes in 2014 and 2015.
Describing the track’s evolving nature and its impact on race strategy, Jones shared,
“New Hampshire is kind of a tough track. It’s changed a lot over the years since we put the PJ-1 down. Doing that moved the line around a lot. Then last year, the line got really unique with it being way up the racetrack. We learned at the tire test that it may be similar to that this race. It changes a lot every time we go there. We’ve had some rain races there – it’s always a possibility this time of year in the Northeast. It’ll be interesting to see what this race brings us and how it’s all going to play out, but it’s usually ends up being somewhat of a wild card race.”
– Erik Jones, Driver
Ben Beshore’s Tire Tactics and Team Readiness
Crew Chief Ben Beshore will guide Erik Jones’s efforts during his fourth appearance as crew chief at New Hampshire in the Cup Series. Beshore’s prior work with Kyle Busch in 2021 and 2022 yielded valuable experience, and his best Cup finish to date at the track came in June 2024—an eighth-place run with John Hunter Nemechek. In the Xfinity Series, Beshore celebrated a dramatic victory with Nemechek in July 2023 after leading 137 laps, capping off their fourth win of the season together. Beshore addressed the strategic element of tire selection at Loudon, stating,
“New Hampshire will be another track that has a softer tire. We’re going to be running the same tire that we had at Richmond which was a softer tire with high fall off. I think the guys at the test here were moving the groove out wide. It’ll be interesting to see what happens there. New Hampshire is obviously a little bit of a different animal from Richmond as it’s got bumps and multiple grooves that you can run. It should put on more of an exciting show than what we’ve had there in the past with a lot of people passing and possibly people getting punished for using their tires up too early in a run.”
– Ben Beshore, Crew Chief
Legacy Motor Club: Engaging Fans and Looking Ahead
Beyond the race itself, Legacy Motor Club leverages the experience of its leadership and drivers to connect with fans. Jimmie Johnson hosts the “Never Settle” podcast alongside ESPN’s Marty Smith each Wednesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and episodes are also available on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. This engagement, paired with the team’s robust on-track approach and a history of wins at New Hampshire, fosters anticipation among fans as the Club prepares for the next chapter at The Magic Mile.
With a lineup featuring proven champions, promising talents like John Hunter Nemechek, and a strategic team ethos, Legacy Motor Club aims for strong results in the 2024 New Hampshire Showdown. Track conditions, tire wear, and unpredictable weather remain factors to watch, as the event is poised to influence both team standings and fan excitement well beyond race day.
