Whereas crew co-owner and Corridor of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson’s race didn’t go in addition to he hoped, LMC’s two full-time drivers – John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones – each left Monday’s rain-delayed Daytona 500 with a robust begin to the 2024 season.
When a last-lap warning froze the sphere, Nemechek was credited with a seventh-place end whereas Jones was eighth. That’s a marked enchancment from final yr when LMC’s three entries all completed twenty fourth or worse.
Johnson, who solely made the sphere for the five hundred in a 3rd LMC automobile with a determined late go for place in his qualifying race, obtained into bother early Monday and completed twenty eighth.
“It was so good to get two top-10s for the No. 42 and No. 43. I hoped to race somewhat longer earlier than we obtained in a wreck, nevertheless it’s only a matter of time earlier than you get caught up in one thing right here,” Johnson stated.
“It was fairly disappointing. We had some optimism at first, hopeful we may straighten out the suspension after which not less than run within the draft. Then, as time went on, we realized the severity of the injury and we simply had an excessive amount of injury.”
Jimmie Johnson, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Carvana Toyota Camry
Picture by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
The brand new Toyota Camry XSE confirmed loads of velocity in racing circumstances at Daytona, even when it might have sacrificed one thing in single automobile qualifying.
Each Nemechek (who began tenth) and Jones (who began eleventh) had been capable of make their strategy to the entrance of the sphere at occasions and put themselves into competition.
“Stable Daytona 500, strong begin to our yr,” Nemecheck stated. “Ran up entrance for somewhat bit, rode round for some time and stayed out of the carnage. Total, actually happy with everybody at Legacy Motor Membership.
“It felt good within the draft. I felt like I may push, I may experience, I could possibly be pushed. Total, a strong day. I be ok with the place we’re at. First rate begin to the yr.”
John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Greenback Tree Toyota Camry
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Jones stated he had an identical expertise however was hampered by some points on pit highway through the race and obtained collected in a single multi-car accident.
“It’s a great begin to the season. I’ve not had good luck at first of the season at Daytona, so we’ll take a top-10. I want it was extra,” he stated. “I believe we had a automobile able to extra – I simply struggled to make a lot occur all through the day, getting in line and attending to the entrance.
“Simply didn’t play out in any respect all through the night time like we wanted. We lastly had one thing rolling there within the center and it obtained choked up and we obtained caught up in that wreck, however we’ll take it. We are going to go to Atlanta and take a look at once more.”
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, AdventHealth Toyota Camry, Austin Cindric, Crew Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang, Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Chili’s Catch-a-Rita Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
