Legacy Motor Club approaches the much-anticipated finale at Phoenix Raceway with determination, aiming to close the season on a high note. The team, led by prominent drivers and experienced crew members, heads to the desert oval with a rich history at the venue and the clear goal of adding another strong finish to its record, making the Legacy Motor Club Phoenix Raceway push a key focus this weekend.
Jimmie Johnson’s Impressive Track Record at Phoenix
Jimmie Johnson, owner of Legacy Motor Club and a storied seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, stands out for his exceptional history at Phoenix Raceway. Across 36 Cup Series starts, Johnson has celebrated four wins, 16 top-five results, and 22 top-10 finishes, leading a remarkable 998 laps in total at the one-mile track. Between November 2007 and November 2009, Johnson notched three consecutive triumphs at Phoenix. His initial victory came after starting sixth, leading 55 laps, and edging Greg Biffle by almost a second. He continued his dominance in April 2008, beginning in the seventh spot and controlling 120 laps, outpacing Clint Bowyer by over seven seconds. Returning in November 2008, Johnson led the field from the pole, maintaining the lead for 217 out of 312 laps and finishing just ahead of Kurt Busch. His fourth win at the venue occurred in November 2009, where he started third and ended the race after leading 238 laps, crossing the finish line ahead of Jeff Burton by just over a second.
Beyond the Cup Series, Johnson also competed in four Phoenix events in the then-Busch Series, achieving a best result of 12th in March 2013. Johnson’s deep experience and success at Phoenix provide a strong foundation and inspiration for the team’s efforts in the championship-deciding race weekend.
Matt Kenseth’s Winning Experience as Competition Advisor
Legacy Motor Club’s competition advisor, Matt Kenseth—a former Cup Series champion—brings strategic insight from an outstanding driving career at Phoenix. Over 32 Phoenix Cup Series starts, Kenseth earned two wins, seven top-fives, and 13 top-10s, leading 329 laps. He first claimed victory in November 2002 during his third Cup start at the track, launching from 28th, leading 55 laps, and finishing ahead of Rusty Wallace. His second Phoenix triumph came in November 2017, starting from seventh, leading 62 laps, and beating Chase Elliott to the checkered flag.
Kenseth is also accomplished in the Xfinity Series at Phoenix, having competed 15 times and achieving one win, six top-five results, and 13 top-10s. Notably, from November 2004 until his last Xfinity start in March 2015, Kenseth never finished outside the top-10. He secured a win from pole position in November 2006, dominating by leading 125 of 200 laps and finishing barely ahead of Kevin Harvick. Kenseth’s history will be a valuable asset for Legacy Motor Club’s tactical approach at Phoenix.
Richard Petty’s Presence and Legacy
As Legacy Motor Club’s ambassador, Richard Petty, affectionately known as “The King,” adds iconic status to the team’s Phoenix campaign. Petty, another seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, made five Phoenix starts from 1988 to 1992, with his best finish being 23rd in November 1990 after starting 36th. Though his on-track results at Phoenix were modest, his enduring presence and legacy continue to inspire the team and its fans during this critical race weekend.
John Hunter Nemechek Builds Momentum at Phoenix
John Hunter Nemechek returns for Legacy Motor Club in the No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE, determined to leave his mark at Phoenix Raceway. With six Cup starts at the track, Nemechek’s best finish to date is 14th, achieved in the spring 2025 race. His success at Phoenix extends beyond the Cup Series, including eight Xfinity races with one pole position in November 2018, six top-10s, and two top-five results. His strongest Xfinity effort came in November 2019 with a fourth-place finish.
Nemechek also boasts notable achievements in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, recording nine starts with six finishes inside the top-10 and three among the top-five. He twice finished second at Phoenix, in November 2015 and again in 2017, showing consistent competitiveness across NASCAR’s upper divisions.
Phoenix is one of my favorite racetracks. I’m excited to go back there with everything we’ve learned this season and really make an impact for one last race.
—John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Travis Mack’s Leadership in the No. 42 Team
Crew chief Travis Mack brings continuity and insight to Legacy Motor Club’s Phoenix campaign with his upcoming 10th Cup Series start as a crew chief at the venue. His first outing was in 2018 alongside Kasey Kahne, followed by several races guiding Daniel Suárez until 2023, highlighted by a ninth-place finish in March 2022. In the 2024 race, Mack worked with Derek Kraus, before reuniting with Nemechek at the 2025 spring event, where the pair finished 14th.
Additionally, Mack has five Xfinity Series appearances at Phoenix with Michael Annett, achieving three top-10 finishes and a best result of fourth in November 2020. His experience with various drivers and series at the one-mile layout strengthens the No. 42 team as they aim for a breakthrough this weekend.
The No. 42 team has made huge strides this year, and we want to cap off the season with a strong run at Phoenix. John Hunter and I have really clicked this year, and coming back to Phoenix gives us a chance to show how much we’ve grown to close out the 2025 season the right way.
—Travis Mack, Crew Chief
Erik Jones Seeks Consistency at Phoenix
Erik Jones will compete in his 19th NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, aiming to repeat and surpass his prior successes. Throughout his Cup career at Phoenix, Jones has collected one top-five and four top-10s, leading 25 laps, with his best showing being a fourth-place finish in November 2017 after starting 11th. Beyond the Cup Series, he made seven Xfinity and three Truck Series starts at Phoenix, winning twice in the Truck Series in 2013 and 2014. Notably, Jones never finished lower than ninth in any of his Truck appearances and achieved five top-five Xfinity results, topped by a second-place finish from the pole in March 2016, coming just behind Kyle Busch.
Jones’ breakthrough moment came at Phoenix in November 2013, earning his first NASCAR Truck Series victory and his first win in any of NASCAR’s top three series at just 16. Driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, he qualified second, led 84 laps, and took the win by over a second ahead of Ross Chastain. He followed up with another Truck Series win the subsequent year, dominating from pole and leading 114 out of 150 laps to finish under caution ahead of Matt Crafton. Across three Truck outings at Phoenix, he averaged a starting position of 1.3 and a finishing place of 3.7.
I’m looking forward to Phoenix. It’s the last race of the year, so I’m hoping we can finish on a high note. It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us as we just got into some bad situations. Hopefully, we have another good racecar. I feel like Martinsville was a step up in our short track program as far as what we had for balance and pace. I think we can carry some things into this race that we learned there to have a solid day. I’m excited to get there and finish out the year strong.
—Erik Jones, Driver
Ben Beshore’s Strategy for Phoenix Raceway
Ben Beshore, crew chief for Erik Jones, has a track record of tactical acumen at Phoenix Raceway, having led efforts in six Cup Series races at the venue with three different drivers: Kyle Busch, John Hunter Nemechek, and Jones. His best Cup results came with Busch, finishing seventh on two occasions in November 2021 and March 2022. In the Xfinity Series at Phoenix, Beshore managed teams in six races with a variety of drivers, including a victory with Busch in March 2019, when they started third, led 116 laps, and finished over three seconds clear of Ryan Truex.
We qualified really well at Phoenix in the Spring but just didn’t have quite what we needed in the race. Fortunately, it’s a full practice event this weekend so we’ll get to try a couple of different set up strategies and see if we can hit on something that can give Erik what he’s looking for in the race. We’re hoping to carry over that speed that we had in qualifying there and then set up the car for the race.
—Ben Beshore, Crew Chief
Fan Engagement and Key Appearances at the Finale
On Sunday, November 2, John Hunter Nemechek will connect with fans at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Experience in the Fan Zone, participating in a question-and-answer session at 9:40 a.m. local time, followed by an autograph opportunity at the NASCAR Classics Hauler at 10 a.m. Fans will also have the chance to tune in to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship event, scheduled for 3 p.m. EST, broadcast live on NBC, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
What the Finale at Phoenix Means for Legacy Motor Club
Legacy Motor Club’s return to Phoenix Raceway for the season’s closing event is enhanced by its deep bench of experience, including iconic NASCAR figures like Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty, and Matt Kenseth, as well as determined current drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. Guided by seasoned crew chiefs Travis Mack and Ben Beshore, the club draws from past victories and present growth heading into the final challenge at the desert track. Their combined successes and lessons learned this season have set the stage for a compelling bid to finish the year as strong contenders, with hopes of further solidifying their presence and respect in the NASCAR field and giving fans lasting moments from the championship weekend at Phoenix.
