Legacy Motor Membership‘s brass now has a mixed fifteen NASCAR Cup Collection driver’s championships. On Tuesday, the group introduced Matt Kenseth has joined the organisation as a contest advisor, the place he’ll function a mentor for Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek from 2024 onwards.
Kenseth and group co-owner Jimmie Johnson are contemporaries, the previous successful the 2003 Cup championship when the latter—a future seven-time champion—was in his sophomore yr. He scored thirty-nine profession Cup wins throughout over twenty years of competitors, together with a pair of Daytona 500s, and was inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2023 for his success.
In addition to working with the drivers, Kenseth may even help the group all through their change from Chevrolet to Toyota. Whereas a lot of his profession was spent with Ford, he loved a profitable five-year tenure with Toyota from 2013 to 2017 with fifteen wins and a runner-up championship end to Johnson in 2013.
The transfer additionally reunites him with group vp of racing operations Joey Cohen. Kenseth and Cohen beforehand labored collectively at what’s now RFK Racing.
“Jimmie and I’ve a lot respect for one another as each rivals and mates; we’re alike in some ways and at comparable factors in our careers,” stated Kenseth. “It is a nice alternative for me to be a useful resource for 2 extraordinarily proficient drivers and assistance on the racing operations aspect with this transition to Toyota. I’m actually trying ahead to seeing what we will accomplish collectively.”
He final raced in NASCAR in 2020 on a substitute foundation for Chip Ganassi Racing, however has remained within the sport by competing in grassroots motorsport. Since 2022, Kenseth has competed sporadically within the Famous person Racing Expertise, recording a pair of third-place finishes throughout his three-race schedule in 2022 adopted by a fifth at Eldora in his solely 2023 begin.
In 2022, he competed within the Boston Marathon the place he completed 142nd in his age and gender class. Kenseth and Johnson sometimes exercised collectively throughout their driving careers, the latter being a triathlete in his off time.
“Not solely is Matt a wonderful driver and a fierce competitor, he’s additionally an excellent buddy,” added Johnson. “This alliance makes a lot sense. Matt is extraordinarily good, has labored with Toyota whereas racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, and continues to be as aggressive as ever. He’s a natural-born athlete and as match as I’ve ever seen him. I’m so glad he’s prepared to share his information and expertise with us, and we sit up for all Matt has to supply.”
Legacy Motor Membership is co-owned by Johnson and Maury Gallagher, whereas seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty is formally in an ambasador function for the group he as soon as ran.
The group hopes Kenseth’s arrival will present extra luck as they struggled of their first season below their present identification: Jones is twenty-seventh in factors within the #43, whereas the #42 was pushed by Noah Gragson who was unable to file a high ten earlier than his launch midseason. Nemechek, the present Xfinity Collection factors chief, will take over the #42 in 2024.
