Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR team, Legacy Motor Club, made an earth-shattering announcement on Tuesday afternoon that shocked the NASCAR world. Starting in 2024, Legacy Motor Club will move away from the Chevrolet camp and join Toyota.
This means Johnson will own and drive for a Toyota-based organization. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has only driven for Chevrolet in the sport’s top level with Hendrick Motorsports and his current race team.
It was reported a while back that Toyota Racing was looking to expand its program in the Cup Series. This makes sense for both sides as the manufacturer gains two entries and the organization should receive more focus.
Legacy Motor Club is low on the totem pole in the Chevrolet camp and that has severely affected their performances. Erik Jones sits 24th in the point standings while Noah Gragson is struggling in 32nd place.
Jones and Gragson are both former Toyota Racing drivers after they spent time in the NASCAR Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Most importantly, Chevrolet’s loss of Johnson is a blow but this will allow him to succeed more as an owner.
Johnson said the following in a press release by Toyota involving Legacy Motor Club’s switch to Toyota Racing in 2024.
“Maury Gallagher and I are very excited about the partnership with Toyota and TRD beginning in 2024. We admire and respect the level at which Toyota conducts their business in this sport and look forward to forging a new legacy for the future. I will always be appreciative to Chevrolet and everything we have accomplished together. I’m so thankful they took a chance on a kid from California so long ago and proud that the history books will forever memorialize our record-breaking success we shared.”
Jimmie Johnson on Legacy Motor Club moving to Toyota in 2024
This will give Toyota a total of eight Cup Series entries between Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, and Legacy Motor Club. The Denny Hamlin-led program could always expand to three entries down the line but the charter market would need to come back down to earth.
The idea of seeing Jimmie Johnson drive a Toyota-backed car is something no one could have expected when he stepped away from NASCAR at the conclusion of the 2020 season. Now, it is a reality and fans should get used to seeing it because Legacy Motor Club is here to stay with Toyota.
In the meantime, whether you are watching it live or looking for how to watch NASCAR on TV or another streaming platform, Sportsnaut has you covered for the upcoming weekend at Kansas Speedway!
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