Legacy Motor Club is gearing up for a pivotal race at Phoenix Raceway as part of the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on March 8, 2026. The club, which competes under the Toyota Racing banner, is aiming to assert its presence on the competitive NASCAR Cup Series stage as it takes on the one-mile oval in Arizona. With both seasoned and rising stars on their roster, Legacy Motor Club is determined to showcase the strength of its program and its continued drive for NASCAR excellence. Their objective at this race aligns closely with their history of striving for victory and championship status, as the team carries forward its focus keyword: Legacy Motor Club Phoenix Preview.
John Hunter Nemechek Looks to the Future with Mobil 1 Toyota
John Hunter Nemechek will be behind the wheel of the No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE, bringing with him a wealth of experience at Phoenix Raceway. Nemechek has participated in seven NASCAR Cup Series events at Phoenix, with a personal best finish of 14th, achieved in March 2025. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, his resume includes eight starts at Phoenix, highlighted by a pole position in November 2018, six finishes within the top 10, and two results inside the top five. His highest result in this series at the track is a fourth-place finish in November 2019. Nemechek also boasts nine starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Phoenix, including six top-10s and three top-five finishes; he has twice secured a second-place finish during these appearances, first in November 2015 and again in November 2017.
Crew chief Travis Mack will be guiding Nemechek’s campaign at Phoenix. Mack enters his 11th Cup Series visit to the track, tracing his involvement at Phoenix back to his first outing in 2018 with Kasey Kahne. He subsequently worked alongside Daniel Suárez for multiple races up through 2023, achieving a best finish of ninth in March 2022. Mack teamed with Nemechek in March 2025, resulting in a 14th-place finish. His time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has also been fruitful, delivering three top-10 finishes and a fourth place as top result in November 2020 with Michael Annett.
Mobil 1 Continues Its Partnership with Legacy Motor Club
Leading synthetic oil brand Mobil 1 will return as the sponsor on Nemechek’s No. 42 Toyota Camry this weekend, reinforcing its deep roots in motorsport. The car’s livery will display Mobil 1’s red and blue colors, a nod to the brand’s commitment to innovation and top-tier performance. This partnership remains a cornerstone for the team’s technological advantage and competitive edge.
Drivers and Crew Share Their Optimism Ahead of Phoenix
Driver John Hunter Nemechek shares the team’s excitement and preparation for the upcoming challenge:
“We learned a lot in the off-season, so I’m ready to see how it plays out for our No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE on our first non-drafting oval race of the season. We’ve shown good speed in Phoenix in the past, so I’m looking forward to kicking off our west coast swing this weekend.”
— John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Alongside him, crew chief Travis Mack emphasizes the effort poured into the team’s program:
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work this offseason getting our program dialed in, and I feel really good about what we’re bringing to Phoenix. Our guys have done an excellent job preparing this race car, and we’re focused and ready to go out there and compete. John Hunter is fired up, the team is locked in, and we’re looking forward to a strong weekend.”
— Travis Mack, Crew Chief
Erik Jones Approaches a Milestone and Returns to a Favored Track
Erik Jones is set to make his 20th NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway, piloting the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE. Jones’ track record at Phoenix includes a top-five finish, four times in the top 10, and 25 laps led. He reached his Phoenix Cup Series best of fourth in November 2017, after starting from 11th. Outside the Cup Series, Jones has logged ten starts at the track, spanning three Truck Series events and seven O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races. He captured two Truck Series wins at Phoenix, securing back-to-back victories in November 2013 and 2014, and never placed lower than ninth in that category. Across his seven O’Reilly Series starts, Jones never missed the top 10, with five top-five runs and a career-best second place after leading from pole in March 2016.
Jones’ breakthrough NASCAR victory came when he was just 16, winning the November 2013 Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix. He led 84 laps and claimed the win with a margin of over a second, returning the following year for another victory, this time leading 114 of 150 laps. These early career performances helped build his reputation for consistency and skill, with an average finish of 3.7 in Truck Series starts at Phoenix. Sunday’s race will also mark his 450th start across NASCAR’s top-three series, highlighting the Michigan native’s longstanding presence in the sport—a career that includes the 2015 Truck Series championship and two Southern 500 victories at Darlington.
Crew chief Justin Alexander brings additional expertise to Jones’ campaign, having overseen 13 Cup Series races at Phoenix and two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events. His best Cup finish at this track was eighth with Austin Dillon in 2018, while in the O’Reilly Series he guided a second-place run in November 2016 after an eighth-place start.
Erik Jones and Justin Alexander Project Confidence for Phoenix Challenge
Erik Jones reflects on past progress and the opportunities this Phoenix race brings:
“Phoenix will be good. It’ll be nice to get on our first traditional oval of the year, and just getting to a short track will be good. This is a track where I think we saw a good bit of improvement in the November race. We ran a little bit better than we had in years past. We would qualify well and have good speed, but we just couldn’t get the long run and race setup quite where we wanted it. I’m excited to get there with added horsepower and see what that’s all about on an oval. Hopefully, it’ll be a bit better on racing versus years past of going there. Looking forward to it. I’ve always liked this track. We’ll see where we stack up on some traditional ovals.”
— Erik Jones, Driver
Justin Alexander emphasizes the chance for Legacy Motor Club to gauge its progress early in the season:
“Phoenix is the first weekend where it really feels like we’re getting back to our normal type of racing. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB made some good gains on the shorter tracks toward the end of last season, and I feel like we learned a lot about the direction we need to go in this year. Hopefully, we can carry that over and start off solid at Phoenix. It’s a good early test for us to see where we really stack up and what we still need to clean up.”
— Justin Alexander, Crew Chief
Club Leadership Draws from Champions and Legends
Club owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson brings unmatched experience to Legacy Motor Club, with 36 Cup Series starts at Phoenix, highlighted by four wins, 16 top-five finishes, and 22 top-10s. Johnson’s history includes three consecutive Phoenix wins, first securing victory in November 2007, followed by triumphs in April and November 2008. He added a fourth Phoenix Cup win in November 2009, leading 238 of 312 laps. Johnson has also made four O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Phoenix, recording a best finish of 12th.
Adding further depth, competition advisor and 2003 Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth has entered 32 Cup Series races at Phoenix, winning twice. Kenseth’s victories came in November 2002 and again in November 2017. Over his 15 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts here, Kenseth tallied a win, six top-five finishes, and 13 results inside the top ten. Impressively, he was never outside of the top 10 from November 2004 through his last series start at Phoenix in March 2015, with a pole-to-win performance in 2006.
Legacy Motor Club’s ambassador Richard Petty, a legendary seven-time Cup Series champion, made five career Phoenix Cup starts, earning a top finish of 23rd. Petty’s influence remains strong within the club, shaping its outlook and values going into every competition.
Jimmie Johnson Takes on the Mint 400 to Celebrate His Racing Roots
While the rest of NASCAR prepares for Phoenix, Jimmie Johnson will be fulfilling a long-held aspiration by competing in the 2026 BF Goodrich Mint 400 in Las Vegas from March 4-8. Partnering with Carvana, Johnson returns to the off-road racing discipline that started his motorsport journey. He will drive the No. 84 Carvana 1Nine Industries Trick Truck for Terrible Herbst Motorsports, participating in one of America’s most celebrated off-road events. This race will be widely broadcast, offering fans multiple ways to follow Johnson’s endeavors beyond the NASCAR oval.
Pit Crew Talent with Strong Local Roots and National Experience
Arizona native Kellen Mills plays a crucial role as the jackman for the No. 43 Dollar Tree team. Mills, a former Arizona State University defensive end and all-state fullback at Mesa Mountain View High School, transitioned to motorsports after college, relocating to North Carolina. He began his NASCAR pit crew career as a fueler, shifting to his current jackman role in 2019. His career has featured tenures with renowned teams such as Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing, including championship collaborations alongside Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. In January, Mills was named the first-ever recipient of the Richard Petty Award of Excellence, an honor presented by Legacy Motor Club to recognize those who best represent Richard Petty’s values and spirit.
Fan Engagement and Community Events Scheduled at Phoenix
Legacy Motor Club is enhancing the race weekend experience by organizing several fan-oriented appearances. On Saturday, March 7, John Hunter Nemechek will conduct a Q&A session at 2 p.m. local time at the NASCAR Experience Stage. The following day, he will meet fans at a trackside merchandise hauler, with autographs starting at 10 a.m. Meanwhile, Erik Jones will be on hand for a Sunday morning Q&A at 9:15 a.m. These events emphasize the team’s connection to motorsport enthusiasts and the Arizona community.
Broadcast Details for the Straight Talk Wireless 500
Fans can catch all the action from the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8. Coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with broadcasts on FS1, MAX, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). The event promises an energetic atmosphere as Legacy Motor Club, together with drivers, pit crews, and supporters, chase a defining result at one of the most challenging tracks of the season.
Legacy Motor Club’s Ongoing Mission for Success
Legacy Motor Club continues to blend storied NASCAR tradition with an ambition for future achievement, led by the collective expertise of Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Richard Petty. The organization, owned by Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, fields the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE for Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE for John Hunter Nemechek in the Cup Series. Johnson also makes select appearances in the No. 84 car. Both on and off the track, Legacy Motor Club is committed to pushing boundaries in American auto racing and fostering an inclusive community for fans and motorsport enthusiasts alike.
