The announcement got here on Tuesday afternoon with the crew revealing its intentions to change producers on the finish of the 2023 season.
At the moment, there are solely two organizations working Toyotas — Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing. There’ll now be eight full-time Toyota groups on the grid in 2024, which is essentially the most because the 2011 season.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion Jimmie Johnson turned a co-owner at Legacy MC in the course of the offseason and has since enacted a number of adjustments from personnel to even the crew title.
“Maury Gallagher and I are very excited concerning the partnership with Toyota and TRD starting in 2024,” mentioned Johnson within the official press launch. “We admire and respect the extent at which Toyota conducts their enterprise on this sport and look ahead to forging a brand new legacy for the longer term. I’ll at all times be appreciative to Chevrolet and every little thing we now have completed collectively. I’m so grateful they took an opportunity on a child from California so way back and proud that the historical past books will without end memorialize our record-breaking success we shared.”
The crew presently fields the No. 42 automobile with driver Noah Gragson and the No. 43 automobile with driver Erik Jones. Each are former Toyota improvement drivers.
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Allegiant Chevrolet Camaro and Noah Gragson, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images
“We’re humbled and delighted to welcome Legacy Motor Membership into the Toyota and TRD NASCAR household,” mentioned David Wilson, president of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Improvement). “Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher have impressed us with their long-term imaginative and prescient and dedication to constructing a championship caliber group. Extra importantly, their character and values are aligned with ours and our present Cup Collection companions, Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing. After all, we additionally look ahead to being reunited with our outdated mates, Erik Jones and Noah Gragson.”
Added Jack Hollis, government vice chairman of TMNA (Toyota Motor North America) and president of Toyota Motor Gross sales. “All of us at Toyota are thrilled so as to add Legacy Motor Membership to our NASCAR household. Whereas Toyota’s tenure in NASCAR has yielded on-track success, our proudest accomplishments are these relationships which were constructed off the racetrack. Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher together with the good membership that LEGACY M.C. is assembling, shall be an ideal addition to our present Cup Collection crew companions with Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing who’re actually a part of our household.”
The crew has undergone a number of rebrands in the previous few years with adjustments in possession. Richard Petty Motorsports in 2021 to Petty GMS in 2022, and eventually Legacy MC in 2023.
The group had gone winless since 2014 till Jones earned a shock victory within the Southern 500 final 12 months. Regardless of the brilliant second, their struggles have endured into 2023 with each drivers exterior the top-20 in factors and simply two high ten finishes between them.
