Legacy Motor Club enters the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with rising expectations and growing confidence. Now in its third year with Toyota, the organization has shown steady progress both on and off the track. The 2025 season marked the strongest overall performance for the team since its rebrand, with Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek both posting career-best numbers in several categories. For the first time, Legacy looked like a true two-car operation capable of competing together on a weekly basis.

One of the biggest signs of improvement came from consistency. Jones and Nemechek finished inside the top 10 in the same race three times last season, something that had been rare in previous years. Team owner Jimmie Johnson also made headlines early in the year, finishing third in the Daytona 500 and reminding the garage that Legacy still carries championship DNA. Jones later matched that result with a third-place finish in the Southern 500 at Darlington. Those moments helped raise the bar heading into 2026, where wins and playoff runs are now realistic goals.

John Hunter Nemechek is coming off the best Cup Series season of his career. Working with crew chief Travis Mack for a full year paid off, as Nemechek doubled his previous best total of top-10 finishes and recorded his first two top-five results. Strong performances in marquee races like the Daytona 500 and Southern 500 showed that he can handle pressure on big stages. With improved consistency and more laps led than ever before, Nemechek enters 2026 as a driver ready to chase his first Cup Series win.

Erik Jones also showed positive growth in 2025, improving his position in the final standings and increasing his number of top-five and top-10 finishes. While he did not reach Victory Lane, the results pointed in the right direction. A new pairing with crew chief Justin Alexander could be the missing piece. Alexander brings a proven track record in major events, and that experience could help Jones return to the win column for the first time since 2022.

For Legacy Motor Club, 2026 is about turning progress into payoff. The team has stability, improved performance, and strong backing from Toyota Racing Development. If Jones and Nemechek can build on last season and take the next step, Legacy could emerge as a serious contender and take meaningful strides toward its first championship run.