NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club Announces Two Key New Signings

Legacy Motor Club, co-owned by NASCAR icon Jimmie Johnson and business magnate Maury Gallagher, has unveiled substantial staff changes, including the addition of two major figures to its team.

One of the additions to the club is Jacob Canter, who steps into the role of Director of Competition. Canter, with a robust background in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington, carved his niche initially at MoTeC USA as a technical engineer. His illustrious career includes roles at Rusty Wallace Racing and a substantial tenure of approximately 16 years at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Before joining Legacy Motor Club, Canter served as the engineering manager of vehicle performance at GM Motorsports. In his new role, Canter will oversee all areas of the competition department, including crew chiefs and pit crew operations. Speaking about his new position, Canter commented, as quoted by Motorsport:

“I am incredibly excited to join Legacy Motor Club and embark on this new journey. I am thankful to Maury, Jimmie, Richard (Petty) and Cal for this opportunity. It is a competitive advantage to be a part of a team with amazing vision and leadership.”

Complementing Canter’s appointment, Bobby Kennedy has been named the General Manager of Legacy Motor Club. In what is a newly formed role within the organization, Kennedy brings a wealth of NASCAR-specific administrative expertise. His responsibilities will encompass the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the club, under the direct supervision of CEO Cal Wells III.

This organizational change coincides with the team’s recent shift from Chevrolet to Toyota, a decision that has delivered mixed outcomes for drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek during the current race season. The intent behind these appointments is clear, as underscored by CEO Cal Wells III. Wells commented:

“Both Jacob and Bobby represent some of the best the world of motorsports has to offer. Having previous long-term relationships with Toyota Racing Development will prove invaluable as Legacy MC strives towards joining the elite within the NASCAR Cup Series.”

The catalyst for these transformative changes stems from a season that has fallen below expectations, as noted by Johnson:

“This has been a difficult season and performance hasn’t been where we want it to be, so moves like this are necessary. We want to show up, be competitive, and win races. That’s the main goal.”

Current 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Standings

1. Kyle Larson – 749 points
2. Denny Hamlin – 706 points
3. William Byron – 654 points
4. Christopher Bell – 651 points
5. Ryan Blaney – 676 points
6. Chase Elliott – 739 points
7. Tyler Reddick – 734 points
8. Brad Keselowski – 615 points
9. Alex Bowman – 606 points
10. Joey Logano – 525 points
11. Daniel Suarez – 460 points
12. Austin Cindric – 438 points
13. Martin Truex Jr. – 653 points
14. Ty Gibbs – 587 points
15. Chris Buescher – 562 points
16. Ross Chastain – 552 points
17. Bubba Wallace – 545 points
18. Chase Briscoe – 469 points
19. Kyle Busch – 440 points
20. Todd Gilliland – 434 points
21. Michael McDowell – 404 points
22. Josh Berry – 388 points
23. Noah Gragson – 383 points
24. Carson Hocevar – 383 points
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 375 points
26. Ryan Preece – 329 points
27. Erik Jones – 329 points
28. Corey LaJoie – 324 points
29. Justin Haley – 319 points
30. Daniel Hemric – 316 points
31. John Hunter Nemechek – 307 points
32. Austin Dillon – 294 points
33. Zane Smith – 248 points
34. Harrison Burton – 238 points
35. Kaz Grala – 166 points
36. Cody Ware – 47 points
37. Joey Hand – 43 points
38. Jimmie Johnson – 39 points
39. Derek Kraus – 32 points
40. David Ragan – 17 points
41. Kamui Kobayashi – 8 points
42. Will Brown – 6 points
43. Cam Waters – 2 points