NASCAR Rant Report - Tuesday, January 28th

Johnson's Ownership of Legacy MC, No Playoff Changes, LaJoie to 500 and Amazon, and more!

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Rant Report AI
January 28, 2025

Major headlines out of Monday:

Johnson Becomes Majority Owner at Legacy MC
No Playoff Changes for 2025
Corey LaJoie to Daytona 500 & Amazon

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the day.

Johnson Becomes Majority Owner at Legacy MC:

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is now the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club, with Knighthead Capital Management acquiring a minority stake. Maury Gallagher will step back from daily operations to serve as an ambassador alongside Richard Petty. Johnson, returning to Charlotte, aims to improve the team's performance and expand its brand, including potential ventures into other motorsport categories like IMSA.

Legacy Motor Club fields two full-time cars: the No. 43 Toyota for Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota for John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson will drive the No. 84 Toyota on a limited basis, attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. The partnership with Knighthead is expected to enhance the team's competitiveness and broaden its reach within the global motorsports ecosystem.

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No Playoff Changes for 2025:

NASCAR has announced that there will be no changes to the playoff format for the 2025 season. Despite fan feedback and discussions about potential adjustments, the current knockout playoff system with a one-race finale will remain in place. This format, which has been used since 2014 and slightly revamped in 2017, will continue to determine the champion.

NASCAR Executive Vice President John Probst stated that while minor tweaks were considered, the decision was made to avoid making small changes every year. Instead, a working group will be formed in 2025 to evaluate the playoff format holistically for potential changes in 2026. This group will include NASCAR officials, drivers, media representatives, manufacturers, and other stakeholders.

The decision follows criticism from fans and industry members, particularly after Joey Logano won the 2024 championship despite finishing 15th in the regular-season points. The current format has been praised for creating dramatic moments but also criticized for not always rewarding season-long performance. NASCAR officials acknowledged the polarized feedback and emphasized their commitment to actively reviewing the format for future improvements.

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Corey LaJoie to Daytona 500 & Amazon:

Corey LaJoie has announced his plans for the 2025 NASCAR season, which include both racing and broadcasting roles. LaJoie will compete part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with Rick Ware Racing (RWR), driving the No. 01 Ford Mustang. His season will begin with an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500, supported by sponsors DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change. This marks LaJoie's ninth attempt at the Daytona 500.

In addition to his racing duties, LaJoie will join Amazon Prime Video as an analyst for their five NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts. These broadcasts will include the Coca-Cola 600, races at Nashville, Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono. LaJoie will work alongside host Danielle Trotta, bringing his on-track experience to the broadcast team.

LaJoie will be among several drivers vying for open spots in the Daytona 500, including notable names like Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. Despite not securing a full-time seat, LaJoie is optimistic about his dual roles and the chance to contribute to NASCAR both on and off the track.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

Front Row Motorsports has restructured its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team numbers for 2025 and added Jon Leonard as the crew chief for newly signed driver Chandler Smith. Layne Riggs, who won rookie of the year honors in 2024, will drive the No. 34 truck, while Smith will take over the No. 38.

Niece Motorsports announced a part-time No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado for the 2025 season, driven by Bayley Currey, Ross Chastain, and Matthew Gould. The team aims to expand its presence in the Truck Series with this new entry.

Young's Motorsports confirmed that rookie Nathan Byrd will compete in at least 15 Truck Series races in 2025, starting with Daytona. Stefan Parsons will also join the team for the season, with his schedule to be announced later.

NASCAR confirmed the return of the Craftsman Truck Series Triple Truck Challenge for its seventh season. The three-race series offers financial bonuses for drivers, with up to $500,000 for winning all three races.

Tickets for the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race are now on sale with reduced prices from 2024. Single-day 'Grounds Passes' start at $99, and children 12 and under can attend for free with a ticketed adult. The race will take place in Grant Park, featuring a 2.2-mile circuit.

NASCAR has installed a new remote race control room featuring Samsung's The Wall, a 32-foot-wide and 9-foot-high LED display. This facility will allow officials to review real-time video, audio, and data from the track, enhancing the accuracy and speed of competition calls.

Former NASCAR broadcaster Bill Weber passed away on December 13, 2024, at the age of 67. Weber was known for his work with NBC and TNT, calling significant races including Jimmie Johnson's first Daytona 500 win and Cup Series championship. His death has saddened many fans and colleagues.

Mike Wallace expressed confusion and disappointment over NASCAR's decision to deny his entry into the 2025 Daytona 500 due to inactivity. NASCAR provided Wallace with a roadmap to qualify for the 2026 race, requiring participation in various races throughout 2025.

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