Legacy Motor Club, the NASCAR Cup Series team owned by seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, had a fantastic race at the Daytona 500 on Sunday night, the opening race of the 2025 season.
Johnson, 49, started the race from 40th place, just ahead of Helio Castroneves and came through the carnage throughout the closing stages of the race to claim a brilliant third-place finish in the No.84 Shaq Toyota Camry TRD having made up an incredible 37 positions.
Johnson’s finish on Sunday was his best NASCAR result since finishing third in Dover in 2020, his last full-time NASCAR Cup Series season before moving to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 and 2022. A delighted Johnson said after 200 lap race which was delayed due to rain commented saying:
“This feels incredible. “I have emotions I didn’t expect to have. I’ve never been in this position as an owner and it’s really opens up a different set of emotions. The pride I have in this result and the pride I have in this company and all we’re trying to achieve and the journey we’re on, I’m so satisfied, so happy right now.”
“It’s been an interesting couple of years and to have our cars come out and be this strong, this Toyota was rocket ship fast, “I’m just smiling inside and out.”
John Hunter Nemechek scored his career-best finish with a fifth-place finish and speaking following the action he said:
“Coming home fifth was a really solid day, a really solid effort, really solid Speedweeks from the whole Legacy Motor Club group. “Excited to see where 2025 goes – we already know we are better than 2024, just how much is the question.
Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Johnston was elated by the result saying:
I mean, he’s a seven-time champion, right? so you wouldn’t expect any less. “I think he’s very underrated when he comes back and does these one or two races, but the amount of talent that he has and his will to win and his will to see the organization do better. … Obviously it’s Daytona, so it’s a little bit different than everywhere we go, but it shows that we’ve made some progress through the winter.”
Jimmie Johnson whose next race, the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, his 700th Cup Series start concluded saying:
“It’s amazing. “Two of the Legacy Motor Club cars in the top five, a great way to start the season. Had Shaq on the hood; I hope he was watching. Hope he’s excited. Just an incredible experience.
“This whole week, the cars have had speed, a lot of good things going on. So just thrilled. I mean, I can’t really put it into words. I didn’t dream of an experience like this before, to be an owner and finish well in your own car. I mean, this is all new, so it’s hard to put the emotions into words.