Over the past several weeks, Legacy Moto Club has had to depend on several different drivers for the number 42 car after the suspension and subsequent release of Noah Gragson. But beginning in February for the 2024 season LMC will have a single driver for the car.
Xfintity Series regular John Hunter Nemechek will be moving back up to the Cup Series to drive the 42. The move will make three teams from all three series in the past four years for Nemechek. He was last in the Cup Series in 2020 where he drove the number 38 car for Front Row Motorsports.
Currently Nemechek drives the number 20 Xfinity car for Joe Gibbs Racing where he drives a Toyota. While LMC currently fields Chevrolets, the team announced back in May that they would be changing manufacturers to Toyota in the 2024 season.
Nemechek spoke on his new team via a statement saying, “to be able to announce my plans for next season so early and officially say I will be competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series relieves a lot of pressure. There is so much to be done for next year, and this gives us the opportunity to get the news out there and move forward. Also, driving for Maury (Gallagher), Jimmie (Johnson) and Richard Petty is a dream come true for me.”
LMC co-owner Jimmie Johnson also spoke on the move saying, “we’re excited to have John Hunter in the Legacy Motor Club family and I can’t wait to see what he can do in the number 42 next season. He is impressive both on and off the track and will be a great ambassador for Legacy M.C. and our partners. He will be a solid teammate to Erik (Jones) and I can’t wait to watch them both compete for wins and championships for years to come.”