Johnson reveals why Nemechek won't return to LEGACY Motor Club

Legacy Motor Club driver John Hunter Nemechek. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jimmie Johnson reveals why John Hunter Nemechek won't return to LEGACY Motor Club

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Sep 5, 2026 9:30 AM ET

Rumors flew earlier in the week about John Hunter Nemechek's impending departure from LEGACY Motor Club at the end of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

One of those rumors was that Nemechek and LMC co-owner Jimmie Johnson had gotten into an argument. Johnson put that narrative to bed in a Friday interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

"There wasn't an incident or a moment," Johnson said. "We're in pro sports. And as we look across the landscape for how we grow the company and if you're looking at a chess board two or three plays down the road, how you can make the most informed, smart decisions for the company. We have partners to think of, we have investors to think of. There was a scenario there that we needed to explore."

Josh Berry is widely considered the leading candidate to replace Nemechek in the No. 42 Toyota next year and join Erik Jones and Riley Herbst in LEGACY's lineup.

@JimmieJohnson on the decision to move on from @JHNemechek at @LEGACYMotorClub ⬇️

️ "When you look across the landscape for how we grow the company [...] there was a scenario there that we needed to explore."

More ➡️ https://t.co/WGRTG5gnEd pic.twitter.com/vUKPTDpnLY
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 4, 2026

Why John Hunter Nemechek is leaving LEGACY Motor Club

"A decision was made, by no means an easy one," Johnson said. "Our commitment to John Hunter and supporting him, I'm not sure other teams would behave the same way. We want to do anything we can to help him. From a long-term perspective, there are other options and opportunities we need to keep open."

Johnson said he had a humorous text exchange with Nemechek on Thursday regarding the wild rumors about the situations surrounding Nemechek's departure, which included one particular rumor that the two had gotten into a fistfight.

"Not true," Johnson said, laughing.

It was previously announced by LMC that Nemechek would return for the 2027 season, though clearly something changed that necessitated a turn in the opposite direction for both parties. It's not yet known where Nemechek will race in 2027, or if he'll be in the Cup Series on a full-time basis.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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