Legacy Motor Club has spent the last two seasons trying to climb back into contention, and with four races remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins, the progress is becoming easier to see. The organization is still searching for its first playoff berth under majority owner Jimmie Johnson, yet the changes made since he took control after the 2024 season are beginning to show. While the results have not all arrived at once, Legacy has positioned itself much differently than it was just a year ago.
Johnson has never tried to hide where the organization stands. The seven-time Cup Series champion has repeatedly said Legacy is working through a long-term plan rather than looking for overnight success. Since taking over as majority owner after Maury Gallagher stepped aside, Johnson has talked about building the organization through one-year, three-year and five-year goals. The team is only in the second year of that plan, but several of the biggest changes are already in place.
One of those changes came in April when Legacy hired Michael Guttilla as team president. Guttilla arrived after serving as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing, bringing years of experience managing one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations. His move also strengthened the relationship between Legacy and Joe Gibbs Racing, which already work together through a technical alliance that gives Legacy access to engineering resources and competition support.
That partnership also includes a technology component, with Legacy utilizing JGR’s data systems, simulation tools and analytics infrastructure to support car development, setup preparation and weekly performance planning. However, Johnson has made it clear that building the organization goes well beyond what happens at the racetrack. Rather than trying to do everything himself, Johnson has surrounded the team with people who have experience leading successful organizations.
He has often joked that he “made it through high school,” saying he learns by doing instead of sitting in a classroom. That approach has shaped the way he has built Legacy’s ownership group. The list reaches well beyond NASCAR. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti and Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan are all part of the ownership group.
They are joined by two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper, six-time MLB All-Star Chase Utley, 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, Grammy Award-winning artist Darius Rucker, celebrity chef Guy Fieri, Away co-founder Jen Rubio and investor Sam Byrne. While each comes from a different background, they all bring experience building successful careers and organizations.
Johnson has said those additions were never about collecting recognizable names. Instead, he wanted people who had already proven they knew how to build and lead successful organizations. Some bring experience from motorsports, while others have built careers in professional sports, business and entertainment. Together, they provide perspectives that extend far beyond racing.
Even so, Johnson knows leadership alone does not guarantee results. Legacy still has work to do before it can consistently compete with the top organizations in the Cup Series. The team has shown improvement throughout the season, but the next step is converting that progress into playoff appearances and race wins. That opportunity is still in front of Erik Jones.
With only four races left in the regular season, Jones sits at 18th in the Cup Series standings with 474 points. He is 44 points below the playoff cutline entering Richmond Raceway. Ryan Preece currently holds 17th and trails the cutline by 33 points, while Austin Cindric occupies the final transfer position in 16th with a 38-point cushion. Shane van Gisbergen sits 15th, 57 points above the line.
These numbers leave little margin to absorb mistakes as the regular season winds down. A strong finish by Jones, combined with a difficult afternoon for the drivers directly ahead of him, could quickly change the playoff picture. Stage points, qualifying position and race strategy will likely carry just as much weight as race finishes during the final push toward the Chase. Johnson believes the team is capable of making that jump.
He has said the organization knows it can compete for a playoff spot, but reaching that goal will come down to executing every week. For Jones and teammate John Hunter Nemechek, that means avoiding the kind of finishes that have cost valuable points throughout the season while taking advantage of every opportunity available. Regardless of whether Legacy reaches the Chase this season, the operation now rests on a foundation that looks nothing like it did a year ago.
The addition of Guttilla, the continued relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing, a diverse ownership group, and Johnson’s long-term approach have all played a role in moving the organization forward. Legacy Motor Club is still working toward its biggest goals, yet the progress made over the past two seasons has put the team in a much stronger position than where it started.
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