Legacy Motor Club has its focus on the NASCAR Cup Series, but team co-owner Jimmie Johnson has confirmed that he is eyeing an expansion to other motorsports series in North America.
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The seven-time Cup Series champion provided the insight on Jan. 25 while appearing on NBC Sports' coverage of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He praised Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks and the decision to field an entry in the prestigious endurance race. Johnson then acknowledged that he would like to follow suit.
"It's certainly a model that I'm inspired by," Johnson told NBC Sports' Dale Jarrett. "As time goes on and opportunities present themselves to Legacy Motor Club, we'll have an open eye and certainly hope to expand.
"I really think there is an opportunity in North America to have a bigger presence. If some good breaks go our way and good fortune, we'll have some other great things to talk about."
When pressed for further detail by NBC Sports' Marty Snider, Johnson confirmed that ownership in IMSA is a possibility. He also said that "there are other opportunities" in all of the divisions in which Toyota Gazoo Racing North America races.
"They know that we want to be everywhere," Johnson said about the partnership with Toyota.
Legacy Motor Club has already expanded to other motorsports series, albeit one that competes in the most remote corners of the globe. The team races in the Extreme E off-road series with a team of drivers.
Johnson is no stranger to competing in multiple series in North America as a driver. He previously competed full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series, and he won multiple Late Model races before moving to NASCAR. Johnson also competed on motorcycles and won multiple championships in off-road racing series.
The time competing in other motorsports series includes two starts in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Johnson was part of the Ally Cadillac Racing team that finished second in 2021. This team then finished fifth in 2022.
Johnson is not the only championship-winning driver-owner eyeing possible expansion into IMSA and other motorsports series. This is a possibility also mentioned by RFK Racing's Brad Keselowski.
"As NASCAR continues to get heavier and heavier into road course racing, I think that pedigree offers a lot of advantages to the ecosystem of a successful Cup team," Keselowski said ahead of the 2023 NASCAR Awards ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 2012 Cup Series champion added that expansion to IMSA provides a route for RFK Racing to get involved in hybrid race cars without competing against NASCAR's brand of "American horsepower."
