Kevin Harvick Exposes the “Irreplaceable” Jimmie Johnson Factor Behind LMC’s Success

The NASCAR Cup Series maiden playoff race of the 2025 season, hosted at Darlington Raceway, witnessed a masterclass performance from Legacy Motor Club. They used the pace advantage all the Toyota’s had on the Southern 500 and according to 2014 Champion Kevin Harvick most of the credit goes to Jimmie Johnson.

Erik Jones secured a P3 finish, behind winner Chase Briscoe and 23XI’s Tyler Reddick, while John Hunter Namecheck secured a P4 finish. It was one the bets race Legacy MC produced since Jimmie Johnson becomes the majority owner of the team. Kevin Harvick on his podcast, highlighted that having the guidance and leadership of the record champion is an irreplaceable advantage for them.

That guidance and leadership from a seven-time champion, but also the owner, and having a presence there on a weekly basis, you can’t replace it.

Kevin Harvick said on Happy Hour podcast.

Furthermore, the ex-RCR driver highlighted that the 83 times Cup race winner understand the car, and racing aspect better than many of the owners of the sport, giving him more resources to make better decision. For a midfield team like LMC that has problem-solving missions daily, having someone like Johnson gives them a massive edge.

Being able to have have been in the car and understand and what the things that they’re fighting, and that results directly into being able to watch, listen and learn just by doing that. When you’re there week after week after week, this is a problem-solving mission on a daily basis.

Kevin Harvick added.

Kevin Harvick explained how Jimmie Johnson is rebuilding his brand

In 2025, Jimmie Johnson isn’t only working on making his team better, making them a bigger motorsport brand, but he is also working on his personal brand. Unlike Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Johnson failed to develop his brad despite the fact that his peak came in a time where there was the most TV coverage as well as the internet.

It was Dale Earnhardt Jr. who took advantage of all those resources that was available for him to end his career as the most famous and culturally relevant figure, despite not even winning championship or the number of races as Johnson did. So, Harvick pointed out that the veteran racer is now working harder than ever to remind the community about his true legacy.

Now he’s almost rebuilding his brand. And as weird as that is to say about a seven-time champion, but he said it. He’s like, ‘I walk outside and I’m the third guy, but only two of the three seven-time champs have merchandise and a recognizable brand to be able to continue that tradition in the sport.’ He’s like ‘I just haven’t done a good job with that.’

Kevin Harvick said.

Jimmie Joshnson has previously explained how he didn’t do a solid job in his peak years working on his personal brand, despite having all of the infrastructure. He was extra focussed on the results inside the car that he overlooked everything outside of, forcing him work on it now after his racing years.

And when I reflect on myself, I had infrastructure, but all my infrastructure focused on was doing the bare minimum outside of the car, so I could do the maximum inside the car. And now, as I own a race team and realize the worth of the JJ brand, I haven’t done a good job.

Jimmie Johnson recently explained.

The comment from the veteran racer shows he understand where he went wrong and now with the resources in his deposal, knows it now or never to work on his brand. It would be interesting to see how everything is going playout for the star driver on and off the track, with himself as his team.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gives Bold Prediction on Hendrick Motorsports’ Disappointing Darlington Run

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