Legacy Motor Club (LMC) is branching outside of the NASCAR Cup Series this year. While the team is busy in Daytona with two full-time rides for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones and a part-time ride for team co-owner Jimmie Johnson, LMC will be making its Extreme E debut this weekend as well, as Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter will be the drivers for the race in Saudia Arabia.
Officially sanctioned by the FIA, Extreme E is an off-road racing series that uses electric SUVs to race in remote parts of the world.
Pastrana and Leadbetter won't be alone, as Johnson will also compete in the series but the 7-time NASCAR champion won't be in Saudia Arabia as he tries to race his way into the 2024 Daytona 500.
But Johnson is certainly fired up for this opportunity according to motorsport.com.
"The opportunity for LEGACY MC to field an off-road vehicle in the Extreme E championship is exciting in many ways. We are essentially representing America in this unique and very competitive series, and we are committed to the challenge," Johnson said. "I'm excited to watch our Legacy Motor Club colors race on foreign soil for the first time while I'm in Daytona for the 'Great American Race.' I know Travis and Gray will represent us well and I can't wait to see what they accomplish."
Pastrana gives the team plenty of experience, while Leadbetter, who is only 19 years old, has quickly made a name for herself in the Championship Off-Road Series by becoming the first woman to win a U.S. Pro Class Championship in 2019.
Pastrana and Johnson both spent plenty of time together at Daytona last year, as both qualified for the Daytona 500, and now they get to be teammates. By joining the Extreme E championship, Johnson gets to re-live his racing past, as he came to NASCAR after a successful off-road racing career.
"Personally, for me as a driver, going back to my off-road roots and to the type of racing I started my career with is going to be a blast," Johnson said.
He's got a busy schedule set for 2024, adding this series to his nine scheduled Cup Series races. What else could Johnson add to his schedule?
