This Legacy Motor Club Talladega Preview spotlights the anticipation for an exciting weekend as NASCAR heads to the iconic Talladega Superspeedway on October 19. With drivers like Erik Jones and legends associated with the team, the stage is set for potential history-making performances and fierce competition at one of the most unpredictable tracks on the circuit.
Legacy Motor Club’s Storied History at Talladega
With Talladega Superspeedway long being a focal point in NASCAR’s schedule, Legacy Motor Club brings a rich heritage of achievements to the 2.66-mile oval. Jimmie Johnson, the team’s co-owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, boasts 38 Cup Series starts at the Alabama track. Johnson’s record includes two victories, seven top-five finishes, and 13 appearances inside the top ten, along with 474 laps led throughout his tenure. His breakthrough win came in May 2006 when he claimed the checkered flag after a dramatic final-lap pass, edging out Tony Stewart by a margin of .120 seconds. Johnson’s second Talladega triumph was secured in April 2011, this time starting from the front row and overtaking Clint Bowyer by just .002 seconds. Beyond the Cup level, Johnson has two Xfinity Series starts at Talladega, with a best result of 28th.
Matt Kenseth, now the team’s competition advisor and also a former Cup Series Champion, has logged 38 Talladega Cup starts of his own. Kenseth’s singular Cup win at this formidable circuit came in October 2012 after leading 33 laps and holding off Jeff Gordon under caution. His regular front-running performances are proved by six top-five results and ten top-tens, cementing his reputation as a Talladega contender. Kenseth also competed in six Xfinity Series races at this venue, achieving a best finish of fourth.
Adding to Legacy Motor Club’s deep roots at Talladega is team ambassador Richard Petty, famously dubbed “The King.” The NASCAR Hall of Famer registered 46 career Cup Series starts at Talladega, picking up two wins, 11 top-five results, and 18 top-ten finishes. Petty’s first triumph at Talladega came in August 1974, a race that saw him fend off David Pearson. Nearly a decade later, he returned to Victory Lane at the spring event in 1983, defeating Benny Parsons after leading 52 laps.
Dollar Tree and Vendor Support Lead the Weekend’s Effort
Excitement builds this weekend as the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE, featuring the distinctive green and white Dollar Tree livery, takes center stage with Erik Jones at the wheel. Partnering with vendor brands like Mt. Dew, the collaboration aims to maximize visual impact both on track and across Legacy Motor Club’s robust social media presence. Such partnerships exemplify the team’s community engagement and marketing strength as they prepare for one of NASCAR’s marquee events.
Recent Podcast Spotlight and Behind-the-Scenes Access
Fans are drawn deeper into the team’s inner workings through “Never Settle,” a weekly podcast co-hosted by Jimmie Johnson and ESPN’s Marty Smith. The show offers behind-the-scenes glimpses, delivered through both YouTube clips and full episodes, giving supporters unique access to the personalities fueling Legacy Motor Club’s drive for victory on the superspeedways.
John Hunter Nemechek’s Path and Team Confidence
John Hunter Nemechek, piloting the No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE, seeks to further Legacy Motor Club’s impact at Talladega. With five Cup Series races at this superspeedway, Nemechek has notably finished eighth in both 2020 contests. His competitiveness also extends to the Xfinity and Truck Series, boasting two top-ten Xfinity results and a pole in the Craftsman Truck Series in October 2022, alongside a fourth-place finish in Trucks the previous year. Nemechek’s consistency on high-speed ovals has instilled optimism within his team as they target a potential breakthrough.
Crew chief Travis Mack, entering his 11th Cup Series start at Talladega, brings valuable experience from working with various drivers, including recent stints with Daniel Suárez and, more recently, Nemechek. Under Mack’s guidance, teams have secured multiple top-ten results at similar tracks, encouraging hopes for continued success. Mack has also found success in the Xfinity Series, including a pole run in 2019 with Michael Annett.
“We showed good speed in Daytona, so I’m feeling confident about our superspeedway package. If we can stay out of trouble, I feel like we can run up front and really make an impact.”
— John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
“We’ve had some good runs this year at superspeedways. This is definitely one of the races that we’ve had circled on our calendar. This is probably our best opportunity for a win for the rest of the year.”
— Travis Mack, Crew Chief
Erik Jones Aims to Make Talladega History
As the YellaWood 500 approaches, Erik Jones is poised to make his 18th Cup Series appearance at Talladega Superspeedway. Jones’ record at the track is marked by three top-five finishes and eight trips to the top ten. His consistency has seen him finish inside the top ten in seven of the past eleven Talladega events, and he’s accumulated 75 laps led at this venue alone. His best finish to date was a heart-stopping second place in October 2020, coming up just .086 seconds short of Denny Hamlin.
In the Xfinity Series at Talladega, Jones boasts an unblemished qualifying record inside the top ten and a best finish of fifth. His Truck Series experience is similarly impressive, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in October 2015 and an average finish of 5.0, never placing outside of the top ten in his two starts. This level of performance has made Jones one to watch every time the series visits Talladega.
Final-lap developments frequently define races at this venue, and Jones has been at the sharp end of several such dramatic battles. In October 2022, Jones looked set for victory with a commanding late-race lead, maintaining first position with nine laps to go and keeping challengers at bay for seven laps. Ultimately, he was shuffled to sixth on the closing circuits, turning a likely win into a missed opportunity. As Jones returns to Talladega, he openly seeks redemption and the elusive first trip to Victory Lane at this historic track.
Crew chief Ben Beshore, with seven Cup starts at Talladega, provides carefully honed strategic support. Beshore’s best result at the track is a third-place finish with Kyle Busch in April 2022. Working with Jones, Beshore aims to convert recent consistency into race-winning form. His experience also spans the Xfinity Series, where he achieved a best result of 26th, despite encountering setbacks.
“Talladega is very unpredictable. It’s a wild card and anything can happen. We’ve run up front quite a few times here, but the final laps are always a battle. People get more aggressive as the race gets near the end and things can happen. It a typical superspeedway. I’m excited to get to Talladega though after how we ran at Daytona. It should be a good race for our No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota team as long as we can execute all day and stay out of trouble.”
— Erik Jones, Driver
“I think we’ve had a couple of good runs on superspeedways this year, especially Daytona, so we’re just trying to bring that same sort of package to Talladega. This track tends to be less about handling compared to Daytona. There’s still that factor, but it seems to be less important. It’s more about pure, raw speed. We’re going to look at what we had a Daytona this year and see what we can apply to Talladega and hopefully get a similar result.”
— Ben Beshore, Crew Chief
Fan Events and Broadcast Details for the YellaWood 500
Legacy Motor Club ensures fans get front-row access to race weekend action. John Hunter Nemechek is scheduled for a fan meet-and-greet at the NASCAR Classics trackside merchandise rig, where he will be signing autographs at 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, October 18. The YellaWood 500 itself is slated for Sunday, October 19 with a 2 p.m. EDT start, and will be widely accessible via broadcasts on NBC, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Building on Legacy and Eyeing the Future at Talladega
Legacy Motor Club arrives at Talladega inspired by a history of Hall-of-Fame level performances from figures like Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, and Matt Kenseth. This foundational legacy, coupled with the drive of current talents such as Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, sets up a weekend filled with high expectations and emotional stakes. For fans, crew members, and the entire NASCAR community, the question is whether Jones can deliver a landmark win for the team and inscribe his name among the legends who have triumphed at this famous oval. The outcome will be determined in a race where anything is possible and history often hangs in the balance.
