Legacy Motor Membership, the NASCAR group owned by seven-time Cup Collection champion Jimmie Johnson and a bunch of celebrities, now has an open seat to fill forward of subsequent season.
The group introduced on Wednesday, Sept. 2 that John Hunter Nemechek wouldn’t return to drive the No. 42 Toyota for Legacy subsequent season. The information is each stunning and abrupt contemplating that Legacy introduced sponsors for the 2027 season for Nemechek again in Could.
Commercial
“Legacy Motor Membership has made the choice to half methods with John Hunter Nemechek on the conclusion of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Collection season,” the group stated in a press release. “We’re grateful for John Hunter’s contributions to Legacy Motor Membership and recognize his professionalism and dedication to the group all through his time with the group. We stay targeted on ending the 2026 season robust collectively and want John Hunter the easiest sooner or later.”
Nemechek, who’s in his fourth full-time season within the Cup Collection — and third with Legacy — launched his personal assertion after.
“I’m extremely grateful to Legacy Motor Membership for the previous three years. Whereas I’m clearly dissatisfied with their choice, I’m as motivated as ever. It has been such an honor to symbolize Toyota, Legacy Motor Membership and all of their sponsors,” Nemechek stated. “I am unable to wait to proceed this journey, as I do know my greatest days are forward.
“This can be a powerful sport, and I’m so grateful for the love and help from Tyler Gibbs, Jack Irving, everybody at Pye Barker, my JHN Autosports group, and so many others which have stored me lifted up by means of good occasions and dangerous. For now, I’ll hug my household, give attention to placing collectively 10 nice races to complete the yr, and determining what comes subsequent.”
1 / 4
See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Speak Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
1 / 4
See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Speak Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
2 / 4
See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 1: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
(Logan Riely, Getty Pictures)
3 / 4
See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 22: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.
(Mady Mertens, Imagn Pictures)
4 / 4
See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 15: Tyler Reddick celebrates together with his household and crew after successful the 68th working of the Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
(Mike Watters, Imagn Pictures)
The 29-year-old Nemechek has but to win a race within the Cup Collection in 139 races. He has simply two top-10 finishes in 26 races this season, coming in tenth at Watkins Glen and putting fourth at Pocono.
Commercial
The son of Joe Nemechek — a former champion within the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Components Collection and a four-time winner on the Cup Collection degree — John Hunter has been profitable within the decrease ranges of NASCAR, successful 11 O’Reilly races and capturing 13 victories within the Craftsman Truck Collection. Nemechek was additionally the common season champion of the Truck Collection in 2021 and voted the Most Common Driver of the sequence in 2015.
The place Nemechek goes from right here is unclear. Earlier than this occasion with Legacy, there seemingly weren’t any open seats on the Cup Collection degree for 2027.
And who Legacy chooses to fill Nemechek’s seat stays unsure, too. Johnson’s group may pull up a younger driver from the O’Reilly or Truck ranks, or they might flip to Josh Berry — the present driver of the No. 21 Ford for Wooden Brothers.
It was introduced earlier this summer time that Berry wouldn’t return to Wooden Brothers in 2027, leaving him at present and not using a Cup Collection trip for subsequent season. Berry will probably be changed by Jesse Love, the 21-year-old who captured the O’Reilly championship final season.
Commercial
However the 35-year-old Berry has been on a career-best surge just lately, at present using a streak of 5 consecutive top-10 finishes on the Brickyard, Iowa, Richmond, New Hampshire and Daytona. It is the primary time since 1994 {that a} driver for Wooden Brothers has notched that many top-10 finishes in a row. Berry additionally completed inside the highest 10 earlier this season at Martinsville and the Daytona 500. He additionally owns a Cup Collection win, taking the checkered flag final season at Las Vegas, which netted him a postseason berth within the previous playoff format.
Legacy additionally fields the No. 43 Toyota pushed by Erik Jones, a former winner of the Southern 500. He is anticipated to return to that seat subsequent yr for his seventh season with the No. 43.
The group will develop to 3 automobiles subsequent season after buying a 3rd constitution from Rick Ware Racing. That third seat is broadly anticipated to be stuffed by Riley Herbst, who at present drives within the Cup Collection with fellow Toyota group 23XI Racing.
Legacy Motor Membership introduced a slew of latest traders this yr, bringing aboard movie star chef Man Fieri, Grammy-winning artist Darius Rucker, two-time Nationwide League MVP Bryce Harper, former U.S. Open winner Andy Roddick, World Collection champion Chase Utley, arguably the world’s greatest skilled surfer Kelly Slater, and a trio of former Indy 500 winners in Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti into the possession group.
Commercial
The 50-year-old Johnson, who was inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2024, is ready to run his last Cup Collection race at subsequent yr’s Daytona 500.
