Legacy Motor Club is aiming for a breakthrough victory at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) NASCAR race on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Austin, Texas. This race marks an important chapter for the team, which has been intensifying efforts to improve their performance on road courses, a critical focus as NASCAR continues to emphasize diverse track layouts.
The Evolution and Significance of COTA in American Motorsports
Opened in October 2012, Circuit of the Americas was the first U.S. track specially designed for Formula One, hosting its inaugural F1 Grand Prix that year. After running yearly F1 events until 2019, COTA returned to major racing prominence with the addition of a NASCAR race in 2021. The venue features two main layouts: the 3.426-mile, 20-turn circuit used for F1 and a shorter 2.4-mile, 17-turn track for NASCAR events. With 2026 being NASCAR’s sixth visit to the track, COTA has developed a reputation for thrilling races, also welcoming other motorsport series like MotoGP and INDYCAR over the years.
Jimmie Johnson’s Return and Road Course History at COTA
Legacy Motor Club owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson previously raced at COTA in March 2023, driving the No. 84 car. Unfortunately, his race was cut short due to a multi-car incident on the first lap, which forced him to retire in 38th place despite efforts to repair the car. Over his career, Johnson has participated in 41 Cup Series road course events, securing one win at Sonoma Raceway in California during 2010, along with one pole position, nine top-five finishes, and 20 top-10s. His Sonoma victory came after leading 55 laps and finishing ahead of Robby Gordon by over three seconds.
Matt Kenseth’s Experience and Role as Competition Advisor
Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion and Legacy Motor Club’s competition advisor, brings a wealth of road course expertise with 39 career road course starts. His strong performances include two top-five finishes and nine top-10 results. Kenseth’s best career road course outcome occurred in August 2017 at Watkins Glen International, where he finished second, trailing race winner Martin Truex Jr. by just 0.414 seconds.
Supporting Legacy Motor Club at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Ahead of COTA, Jimmie Johnson plans to attend the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida to support his friend and four-time INDYCAR champion Dario Franchitti. Johnson will act as Honorary Crew Chief for Franchitti, who is returning to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2013 by racing the No. 1 Dollar Tree Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Franchitti previously played an influential role as Johnson’s mentor and driver coach during Johnson’s INDYCAR career with Chip Ganassi Racing.
John Hunter Nemechek’s Growing Presence at COTA
Driver John Hunter Nemechek will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start at COTA this weekend in the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE. His top finish at the track came in March 2024 with a 21st-place result. Nemechek also has notable achievements in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, including a third-place finish at COTA in March 2024, and a runner-up spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in March 2022. This race represents a chance for him to further develop his road course skills within Legacy Motor Club.
“I’ve been working really hard on my road course skills over the off-season, so I’m looking forward to putting what I’ve learned to the test this weekend at COTA. I’ve had good results in the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, but the Cup car has been a challenge for me. We’ve put a lot of effort into improving our road course program over the past couple of months, so I’m excited to see these improvements come to life.”
John Hunter Nemechek, Driver
Travis Mack’s Leadership as Crew Chief at COTA
Travis Mack, crew chief for John Hunter Nemechek, will lead his sixth NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA on Sunday. Together with driver Daniel Suárez in previous seasons, Mack achieved strong qualifying positions, including a second and fifth starting spot in 2022 and 2023 respectively. As the team adapts to NASCAR’s new points system, Mack emphasized the strategic balancing act required between aiming for stage points and the overall race victory.
“We’ve been working really hard the past couple of weeks to capitalize on some changes we made during the off-season to improve our road course program. John Hunter has also been doing a lot of driver training to get ready to go road course racing. With the new points system, it’s going to be really interesting to try to collect stage points and win the race. To collect stage points, you’ll probably sacrifice the race win, so maximizing our points for the day will be really important. It’s going to definitely be a balancing act between collecting points and going for the win.”
Travis Mack, Crew Chief
While in Austin, Nemechek and Mack plan to visit Terry Black’s BBQ, a famed local establishment, offering fans a glimpse into their race weekend experience via social media.
New Livery and Sponsor Return to the No. 42 Toyota
For the 2026 season, Pye-Barker Fire and Safety returns as the primary sponsor for the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE, debuting a fresh white, green, and blue paint scheme accented by striking flames. As the nation’s largest fully integrated provider of fire protection, life safety, and security services, Pye-Barker’s branding reflects a bold presence on the track.
Erik Jones and the No. 43 Team’s Strategy at COTA
Erik Jones will compete in his sixth NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA this Sunday, driving the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE. His best finish at the track ranks ninth place, achieved in March 2022 after starting 30th. Notably, Jones has consistently completed every lap in his COTA starts. Across his career, he has made 37 Cup Series starts on road courses, earning three top-fives and nine top-10 finishes, including a personal best of third at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval in 2020.
Jones also carries experience from the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series, boasting podium finishes and a victory at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in 2015. Dollar Tree serves as the main partner for the No. 43 at this event, showcasing a bold green and white paint job that will be featured prominently alongside support from Coca-Cola throughout the race weekend.
“This weekend’s race at COTA will be a good test to see just where our road course program is at for the start of the 2026 season. It’s something LEGACY MOTOR CLUB as a group has been working on with over the last few years with the NextGen car. We’ve been trying to hit on something to get better. I’m looking forward to getting there and seeing where we stack up with some of the stuff we’ve changed, we’re trying some different options from the past. I think the short course at COTA is a little bit better for the NASCAR Cup Series and how we race. I’m looking forward to going back and seeing where we can end up.”
Erik Jones, Driver
Justin Alexander’s Role in Advancing Road Course Performance
Justin Alexander, crew chief for the No. 43 team, brings previous COTA experience from working with Austin Dillon in 2021 and 2022, where the team earned 12th and 10th-place finishes respectively. Alexander and Legacy Motor Club have focused heavily on improving their performances on road courses during the off-season, increasing simulator time and analyzing data to drive progress.
“Road courses were definitely a place where LEGACY MOTOR CLUB could improve last year, and COTA was no exception. We’ve been putting a bigger emphasis on our road course program this offseason, spending more time in the sim, really digging into what we need. We’re not going to fix everything overnight, but we want to show improvement this weekend and keep building from there.”
Justin Alexander, Crew Chief
Fan Engagement and Viewing Information for the COTA Race
Fans attending the race will have the chance to meet John Hunter Nemechek in person, as he will be signing autographs at the trackside merchandise hauler on Sunday, March 1, at 10:00 a.m. local time. For those watching remotely, the NASCAR Cup Series race from Circuit of the Americas will air live at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX, MAX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, ensuring fans nationwide can follow the intense competition.
Legacy Motor Club’s Prospects and Impact at COTA
With a history of challenges at COTA but ongoing improvements in road course strategy and driver skill, Legacy Motor Club enters the 2026 race with strong determination to break through and claim their first win at this demanding track. The combination of veteran leadership from Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth, driver development for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones, and strategic guidance from crew chiefs Travis Mack and Justin Alexander position the team for a potential breakthrough. The race at COTA will not only test their preparation but also could serve as a key moment in Legacy Motor Club’s quest for greater success throughout the NASCAR season.
