The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series was nothing short of a brutal gauntlet for Legacy Motor Club (LMC). Instead of making headlines for stunning performances, the team found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons—wrecks, lackluster finishes, and an overwhelming sense of underperformance. With John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones struggling to break into the front-runners’ circle, it’s become painfully clear that something needs to change.
But here’s the burning question: Is LMC’s commitment to Toyota actually holding them back?
Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time Cup Series champion turned team owner, banked on a bold move for 2024, ditching Chevrolet in favor of Toyota in hopes of elevating his organization. The result? A season of sheer frustration. While Toyota’s presence in NASCAR isn’t as dominant in numbers compared to Chevrolet and Ford, their focus is primarily locked onto top-tier teams. And Legacy Motor Club? Not even close to the top of Toyota’s priority list.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR legend and one of the sport’s most insightful voices, didn’t hold back on his podcast when dissecting LMC’s predicament. He pointed out what many have suspected: LMC isn’t getting the specialized attention it desperately needs to thrive. Instead, Toyota remains laser-focused on its powerhouse teams, leaving Johnson’s squad fighting for scraps.
But that’s just one layer of the problem.
Is a New OEM the Lifeline LMC Needs?
For years, rumors have swirled about a new manufacturer entering NASCAR, and 2025 might finally be the year. One of the biggest names thrown around? Honda. Insiders were abuzz with speculation, especially after whispers of a potential Honda-Nissan partnership. But when that deal fell apart, the once-certain arrival of a fresh OEM suddenly became a massive question mark.
And yet, this could be Jimmie Johnson’s golden ticket.
Earnhardt Jr. laid it out perfectly:
“If you’re a new OEM, you’re going to have interest from people who don’t have Charters—people who want to get into the sport or become Cup teams. You’re also going to have interest from guys who are third or fourth in line at other OEMs….I could absolutely see Jimmie going with a new OEM.”
Think about it: if a new manufacturer enters the NASCAR battlefield, they won’t just be looking for a small piece of the pie—they’ll want a marquee team to build their program around. Who better than Jimmie Johnson? The moment a new OEM promises full support, cutting-edge R&D, and dedicated resources, LMC could finally step out of the shadows and forge its own identity as a true competitor rather than an afterthought.
The Harsh Reality of LMC’s 2024 Season
If the Toyota experiment had paid off, this conversation wouldn’t be happening. But the numbers don’t lie—LMC’s first season under the Toyota banner was a disaster.
- John Hunter Nemechek, piloting the No. 42 car, endured a season bordering on humiliation, with only four top-10 finishes and a dismal 34th-place finish in the standings.
- Erik Jones, while marginally better, still struggled mightily. A lone top-five finish at Talladega was the only true highlight in an otherwise forgettable year.
For a team with championship pedigree in its ownership, this level of performance is unacceptable.
Jimmie Johnson himself acknowledged the uphill battle:
“We couldn’t have tried any harder this year. It’s just part of the journey. This year has been very transformational for us. We won’t have a great sense of the change until we get into probably March of next year.”
What’s Next? A Risk or a Revival?
The reality is harsh: LMC isn’t Toyota’s top priority. And as long as that remains true, they will continue to be an afterthought in the manufacturer’s long-term strategy.
So what’s the next move?
- Stick with Toyota and hope for a shift in resources?
- Break free and align with a new OEM, betting on a fresh partnership that prioritizes them as a flagship team?
Dale Jr. believes the right manufacturer could change LMC’s trajectory overnight:
“If they come in and say, ‘We want to make you our top dog. We’ll give you the resources to become what you want to be,’ I think that would interest him.”
For now, LMC is trapped in a game where the deck is stacked against them. But if Johnson plays his cards right, seizing the opportunity with a new OEM could be the franchise-altering move that finally unlocks his team’s full potential.
The only question left? Will Jimmie take the gamble—or stay stuck in the same cycle?