Erik Jones Inks Contract Extension With Legacy M.C.

Erik Jones (Nigel Kinrade/NKP for Toyota Racing photo)

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Erik Jones has signed a multi-year contract extension with Legacy Motor Club that will keep the Byron, Mich., native in the famed No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE through at least 2026.

Announced Tuesday, Jones’ new deal comes in the midst of a building season for the team co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, which switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota prior to this season.

Jones will embark on his ninth full-time season of Cup Series competition and fifth with Legacy Motor Club next year. He originally joined the team in 2021, when it was known as Richard Petty Motorsports.

“Erik is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR, I’ve had the chance to race against him and have had a chance to watch him drive for other teams and the Clun,” said Johnson. “I admire his talent and am glad we will have him race for us for the upcoming years.

“Erik will be a key to helping us turn our program around, and we look forward to giving him the tools he needs to go out on Sundays and race for wins, and eventually a championship someday.”

The 28-year-old Jones has been a fixture in the Cup Series since 2017, when he made his rookie campaign with the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing operation. He was with Joe Gibbs Racing for a three-year stint prior to taking the reins of the No. 43 entry.

In 276 career Cup Series starts, Jones has earned three wins, 37 top-five and 89 top-10 finishes, as well as two poles. Two of Jones’ three career victories have come in Darlington (S.C.) Raceway’s Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s four crown jewel events.

Prior to stepping up to the sport’s top level, Jones spent time in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, winning the Truck Series championship in 2015 with Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Three of his seven Truck Series wins came during that title run, and Jones also has nine Xfinity Series victories, all of which came with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Jones has had a trying year so far, missing two races due to a back injury sustained in April at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and ranking just 28th in the point standings.

However, Jones feels confident that better times are ahead for both him and the Legacy organization – especially considering his two best tracks, Darlington and Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway, are on tap in the next three weeks.

“I’m looking forward to what we can build at Legacy Motor Club,” said Jones. “I’ve been with the No. 43 car for a handful of years and feel like I’m coming into some of the best years of my career. I am hoping to grow alongside [the team] in the seasons to come.”

Legacy Motor Club is in its second Cup Series season since rebranding and adding Johnson as a co-owner alongside businessman Maury Gallagher. Combined, the team has four top-10 finishes and 36 laps led.

Cal Wells III, the team’s CEO, believes that Jones will continue to be essential to Legacy’s competitive fabric as it works to reach a level of consistent performance at NASCAR’s top level.

“Erik Jones has been the consistent cornerstone of Legacy Motor Club's driver lineup since Maury chose to enter NASCAR's highly competitive Cup Series,” said Wells. “He's a proven champion that, surrounded with the right team powered by Toyota, can and will compete for race wins against the very best on any given Sunday.

“Having personally known Erik for close to 14 years, I feel blessed he's chosen to remain with the Club and I'm looking forward to winning races with him at the helm of the iconic No. 43.”