Richard Petty is bothered by Jimmie Johnson running the show at LEGACY M.C.

Jimmie Johnson made his LEGACY M.C. debut in the Daytona 500 qualifiers.

Richard Petty is bothered by Jimmie Johnson running the show at LEGACY M.C.

Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson

Petty GMS Racing has been going through some big changes over the years, and the 2023 season marked the biggest of them all. For the first time in 75 years, the Petty brand is no more part of a NASCAR team. Petty GMS Racing was rebranded as LEGACY MOTOR CLUB after 7 times Cup champion Jimmie Johnson joined the team as co-owner and part-time driver.

Johnson joined fellow record Cup champion Richard Petty and billionaire Maury Gallagher as co-owner. Petty, still one of the most recognizable drivers in NASCAR, was the face of the Chevy team till Johnson’s entry. The crew’s control has now been passed over to the former HMS driver. Ahead of the 2023 Cup season opener, Daytona 500 Petty has opened up about the strange feeling he has had since JJ’s takeover.

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“It’s been strange to me, Most of the time, I ran the majority of the show. Jimmie brought all his people in. His way of running things and my way of running things are probably a little bit different. We probably agree on about 50% of what it really comes down to,” Richard Petty said.

He pointed out that Johnson’s crew now fully controls the team’s front office. He said, “They don’t take over the racing part, they take over the front office.  With sponsorships, appearances, and all that stuff, Jimmie’s crowd is kind of controlling that. That’s something I never had to put up with, I guess,”.

When asked whether he is bothered about all these changes, Petty said he is. But the 85 years, old understand that it’s time for a change as the team has been suffering from midfield mediocrity for a long period of time. He feels it is the right moment, like 47 years old Johnson, to take over and help the team move forward. Petty is also not bothered about the family name being striped o the car.

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Jimmie Johnson might completely take over LEGACY M.C. in the future

Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty
Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty

Richard Petty pointed out that Jimmie Johnson joined the team with the intent and determination to grow them. He feels that the twice Daytona 500 winner will soon become the team’s majority owner. Petty also revealed that everything happening on the team now requires Johnno’s’ approval.

“He’s basically going to wind up running the show in four or five years completely. He’ll probably be the majority owner or the owner of our operation. They’re looking at things completely differently,” Richard Petty said.

“Jimmie’s very observant. He takes on everything. Jimmie controls everything, basically. You’re making postcards and stuff, he has to approve it. He approves everything. He’s a pretty busy man right now‘” Richard Petty added.

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