Legacy Motor Club co-owner and seven time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will compete in select races during the 2025 season.
Johnson confirmed the news to Jayski during Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway, reflecting on his second season as a car owner.
“For 2025, we will make sure we use the [No. 84] car in the right capacity and in the right way so it doesn’t take anything away from the [Nos.] 42 or the 43,” Johnson said. “We will see how many times Jacob [Canter, director of competition at Legacy Motor Club] lets me go out and drive.”
Johnson said he “absolutely” wants to drive to get more experience with the Next Gen car. In two partial seasons driving the No. 84 car, Johnson has an average finish of 31.8. The 26th-place effort last weekend at Phoenix is his best finish since rounding out the top five in his final full-time race with Hendrick Motorsports in 2020, also at Phoenix.
By racing a partial season, Johnson’s approach is to be smart and to get up to speed. The goal is to help Legacy’s engineering department build a notebook. The No. 84 car has “various agendas,” giving Johnson a purpose to be on the track.
“I’m a result-oriented guy,” he added. “It’s hard not to have that weigh on you at times. Picking a goal, having a reason and a purpose for why we’re running a third car is very helpful.”
The sport has evolved and Johnson is continuing to adjust. The way he used to prepare for races is a complete 180 from how the bulk of Cup drivers do it today. That has also been a change.
“One, the sport is different. Two, it’s not my full-time job,” Johnson said. “I walked into these gates for decades knowing I had my stuff in order and was brought up in a system where preparation equals confidence. I can’t prep today like I used to prep when I was a full-time driver. Plus, not being a full-time driver, there are a lot of unknowns and details to get these cars around track.”
Johnson has spearheaded changes within Legacy over the last few months, adding Canter and Brian Campe (technical director) to the competition department. Bobby Kennedy was also brought on in July as the general manager.