Spoiler Alert: Legacy Motor Club Still Racing Like It Matters

gettyimages-2231747627 — DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 23: Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Dollar Tree Toyota, reacts after the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 23, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Legacy Motor Club drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek were not only steadfast in their desire to chase a first victory for the team this season, but a bit defiant to the suggestion that non-Playoff teams aren’t still competitive as the season winds down. The two have combined for six top-five finishes and 13 top-10s and are ranked 25th (Jones) and 26th (Nemechek) in the championship standings.

“Who says we’re giving up anything, we’re out here to win races,” said Nemechek, driver of the No. 42 Legacy team Toyota. “We’re out here to do the best that we possibly can for, ourselves, our team, all the men and women at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Yes, we’re not a part of the playoffs, yes, we’re not contending for a championship this year, but we looked at it, at least for our 42 group, we look at it as an opportunity to go out possibly spoil that but also continue to try to get better.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements over the last 10 months, I would say, at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, at certain race tracks more than others, but we look at it at it as opportunity to continue to try and build our notebook and learn and try and going into next year to be a Playoff contender. So, these races are very important, especially with the Playoff format, being able excel in all of the playoff races if you are able to make it.

“There’s definitely an asterisk to every race track in the Playoffs for sure. I mean, obviously, there’s a level of respect there from the guys that are going through the Playoffs and contending for a championship, and you don’t want to be the one that makes a mistake and wrecks them and takes them out of championship, contention, right? But at the same time, we’re all here to race and we’re all here to provide the best possible opportunity we can for our team, ourselves, everyone, that is behind us, our partners and our team owners to go out and try to win races and put ourselves up front.”