Jimmie Johnson’s LMC announce John Hunter Nemechek’s new crew chief
A new crew chief is in town for the No. 42 team. Legacy Motor Club announced Travis Mack as the new shot caller for John Hunter Nemechek.
Mack is a 41-year-old crew chief with 156 Cup races, including one win. He started in the ARCA before moving to NASCAR with Hendrick Motorsports in 2004. During his stay in HMS, Mack worked his way up to a crew chief role and served as interim shot caller for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at one time.
Mack comes on board with experiences as a crew chief at JR Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing and Kaulig Racing. The new No. 42 team head reunites with Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson, who he worked with at Hendrick Motorsports.
In a statement, Travis Mack shared his excitement for the role, saying:
“I’m looking forward to helping Legacy Motor Club build something great […] There are a lot of talented people here at Legacy M.C. I worked with Jimmie (Johnson) at Hendrick Motorsports, and I know his work ethic and determination – so his vision for the Club is really exciting, and I’m ready to get to work.”
Meanwhile, Jacob Canter, sporting director for LMC, stated:
“Travis is a welcome addition to Legacy Motor Club […] As we continue to make changes and evolve on the competition side, the goal is to place the right people in the right places. That will take some time, but we are thrilled to have a talent like Travis on board and can’t wait to see what he, Ben and the rest of the engineering team can accomplish over this short off-season.”
Travis Mack replaces Ben Beshore in the crew chief department of the No. 42 team, though Beshore already moved to the No. 43 team of Erik Jones before the Charlotte playoff race last month. Technical director Brian Campe served as the interim crew chief for John Hunter Nemechek.
Nemechek concluded the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season with four top-10 finishes, his best finish coming at Bristol Motor Speedway in P6.
The 27-year-old will return to action with a new crew chief in the Daytona 500 season opener in February 2025.
Jimmie Johnson set to run select races for Legacy Motor Club in 2025
Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson will join John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones as a part-time driver next year. For the upcoming season, Johnson planned to compete to score good points instead of just being on the track.
Speaking with Jayski, the seven-time Cup Series champ shared his goals for 2025:
“I’m a result-oriented guy. 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.”
Jimmie Johnson also opened up about the struggle as a part-time driver and co-owner for LMC, saying:
“One, the sport is different. Two, it’s not my full-time job. 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.”
No changes to the car number are expected for next year. This means Jimmie Johnson will still drive the No. 84 Toyota Camry. Meanwhile, John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones will pilot the No. 42 and No. 43 cars, respectively.