Legacy Duo Continues Growth With Strong Southern 500

John Hunter Nemechek (42) and teammate Erik Jones at Darlington Raceway. (Matthew Thacker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

DARLINGTON, S.C. – While most eyes were on the NASCAR Cup Series playoff field in the 76th Cook Out Southern 500, the strong races from the Legacy Motor Club duo of Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek didn’t go unnoticed.

Finishing as the highest non-playoff cars, Jones finished third and Nemechek was a career-best fourth. It’s the first time all season both team cars finished inside the top five.

“I felt like we were probably a little bit better than both [Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick]. I just couldn't get the run,” said Jones, a two-time Southern 500 winner. “I thought I had [Reddick] there with maybe four or five laps to go. There was a little hole on the top. He squeezed up and filled it, but it’s just racing for the win.”

Throughout the night Jones remained a dark horse threat for the win, as did his teammate Nemechek. Jones qualified 19th, but drove his way up through the field to position himself as a contender. He was able to finish third in stage two and stayed up front through green-flag pit stops and late restarts.

“It’s hard to be that close. I would have liked to have had another [restart],” said Jones. “We were right there all day, and we had good speed. We just needed more to win. Hopefully we keep these cars rolling and get one soon.”

Darlington marked the 29-year-old’s first set of consecutive top fives since 2020, after he was fifth in the regular season finale at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.

The Byron, Mich., native was able to rely on his strong record at Darlington to remain fast at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval. In addition to his two Southern 500 wins, Jones picked up his fifth top five at the track since 2017.

Nemechek also helped carry the banner for Legacy Sunday night. The 28-year-old secured his second top five and bettered his previous high-water mark of fifth from the Daytona 500 back in February.

“I wish we had more laps. The more that I ran, the better that I was. I hated to see that caution there at the end, because I felt like we were in a really good spot, long run speed wise with the green flag cycle coming and everything else,” said Nemechek. “We didn’t have a lot of short run speed but we made the most of it. I’m proud of the effort from everyone at Legacy Motor Club.

“We continue to get better. It is pretty cool to have [ourselves and Erik Jones] finish third and fourth in the Southern 500. I know I’m proud of the drive for myself. I’m proud of the effort. I’m proud of [crew chief] Travis Mack and everyone that has been putting a lot into our cars to make them faster.”

Nemechek led 15 laps, which was the most he’s led in a race all season. Additionally, he led in consecutive races after spending seven laps out front at Daytona.

“It feels good to come home fourth. Hats off to Pye Barker and everyone that has supported me through my career,” Nemechek continued. “Thank you to [co-owner] Jimmie Johnson and Toyota for taking a chance on me to kind of revamp my career and getting me back to the Cup Series.”

The Legacy duo will set their sights on raising the bar at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. Nemecheck finished 27th last season at Gateway, while Jones’s best finish at the track is seventh from 2022.

Coverage of the Enjoy Illinois 300 is slated for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.