Until June, Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club had announced two high-profile investors who joined their strategic ownership group. But on Thursday, LMC upped the game by announcing nine more additions, and three of them are IndyCar legends.

Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Dario Franchitti are the latest to join the team. And it isn’t even just IndyCar. As seen on the team’s official page, the group now includes accomplished figures from the sport, business, entertainment, hospitality, media, and global finance industries.

“This is not a traditional ownership group,” Jimmie Johnson said in the official press release.

“It is a collection of people who understand competition, leadership, innovation, storytelling, and how enduring organizations are built. They come from different worlds but share a common belief: that Legacy can become something fundamentally different within motorsports and culture.”

Dixon, Kanaan, and Franchitti have 11 IndyCar championships and five Indianapolis 500 triumphs combined. Dixon alone has six championships, and his 59 wins are ranked second in IndyCar history.

Franchitti, on the other hand, has four championships and has won the Indy 500 three times. He has 31 wins, ranking 11th all-time. Kanaan won the championship in 2004 and the Indy 500 in 2013.

And when you further combine all the 11 investors, their achievements include 30+ championships and major professional titles, Grammy Award-winning artists, billion-dollar company founders, and Hall of Fame equivalent careers.

Earlier in March, American singer Darius Rucker became the first publicly announced celebrity investor. Then in June, American restaurateur Guy Fieri joined as a strategic owner.

“Great organizations are built by people who understand what it takes to win — but also what it takes to build,” Johnson added in the release. “The caliber, diversity, and perspective of this group speak directly to where LEGACY is headed.” 

LMC fields two full-time drivers in the Cup Series, John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 42 and Erik Jones in the No. 43. Johnson himself drives the No. 84 part-time.

But in the next year's Daytona 500, he is taking his fans on a nostalgic trip.

Jimmie Johnson’s last dance in the 48

Just before the Brickyard race, Rick Hendrick and Jimmie Johnson surprised NASCAR fans when they announced that Johnson will drive his iconic No. 48 car once again.

Hendrick Motorsports is loaning the No. 48 to let Johnson drive it for his final Cup Series start in the 2027 Daytona 500.

“I'm really excited about being here with Jimmy and he called me off a few months back and said, ‘Hey, Daytona is going to be my last race and I sure would like to use the number 48.’ And so I talked to Ally, I talked to NASCAR and we got it pulled off,” said Rick Hendrick on the pre-race show, uploaded by Speedway Digest on YouTube.

Johnson also couldn’t hold back, as he responded, “I'm beyond words and so grateful for first and foremost your friendship, your mentorship, making my family part of yours.

“Thank you so much, Rick. And big thanks to Ally, Hendrick Motorsports, you and Linda. I'm so honored and excited to have my first drive and last drive in a 48.”

Currently, Alex Bowman still drives the No. 48 and will continue to do so until he retires after the 2027 season. But the 48 car was remembered for Johnson’s career, who won all his seven championships and his 83 Cup wins in that car.

Written by

Suyashdeep Sason

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason