By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
When Legacy Motor Club, one of the newer names in NASCAR Cup Series ownership, put its two cars seventh and eighth in Saturday qualifying at Pocono Raceway, the potential of having a big day was there for the organization.
And that potential turned into results.
John Hunter Nemechek, second-year driver for the team’s No. 42 Toyota, grabbed the race lead via pit strategy and held it longer than anyone on the day (42 laps) before finishing fourth.
The finish tied a career-high for Nemechek and even pushed him up a few spots in points.
But the day didn’t stop there for Legacy, as the team’s veteran driver in Erik Jones ran closely behind throughout the day and finished sixth.
For Nemechek, the result highlighted the team’s growing confidence after now three top-15 finishes in the last four races.
“It feels really good,” Nemechek said. “We are building potential, both the [Nos] 42 and 43 across the whole organization. I feel like that says something.”
Nemechek turned 29 on Thursday and put what he recalled as one of the best races of his Cup Series career.
“It definitely ranks up there,” he said. “Darlington last fall stands out. I feel we had a race-winning car before the last caution came out there at the end.
“Today was one of the best days I’ve had in the Cup Series as a driver. Just continue to build that confidence, continue to build the momentum and the potential we have in our cars at Legacy Motor Club.”
For Jones, the likelihood of making the 16-driver Chase inched toward a realistic goal last week after finishing second to Denny Hamlin at Michigan.
Now, the No. 43 is above the cutline for the first time of the year.
”
“This has been the most continued performance we’ve had as a group,” Jones said. “For ourselves, another good week of execution like Michigan. And for the No. 42, finally getting the finish. I think they’ve had the same speed as us for a while, they just haven’t been able to get the results. I’m happy for them and hopefully they can get some momentum going.
“I’m proud of the whole group, we are bringing speed. You’re not gonna have a car like we had at Michigan every week. But to have a car like this where we were top five, top 10 speed all day is something to be proud of.”
Jones enters the road course doubleheader four points into the Chase. The points reflect the comfortability that Jones and team are feeling nearing the season’s halfway point.
“You just get more comfortable with your car,” he said. “You’re not making crazy adjustments all race, your car is good when you unload. This is the best we’ve been in a long time. It carries on, the more you can run better each week, the more it rolls into the next one.”