Jimmie Johnson explains decision to bring Josh Berry to Legacy

The NASCAR postseason is set for the second race of the Chase on Sunday, with the 16 drivers still in contention for the championship battling fiercely. While not every car on the track is still a title contender, the rest of the field is already prepping to chase greatness in 2027. Legacy Motor Club, despite not having a driver in the Chase this year, has made big moves recently that it hopes will boost its chances next year.

The team plans to expand to three full-time cars in 2027, starting with Riley Herbst joining the team in the No. 84 car. A more surprising move, however, was the driver swap with Legacy announcing that Josh Berry would take over the No. 42 car from John Hunter Nemechek. Team owner Jimmie Johnson explained the decision, stating that while it was difficult not to keep Nemechek, Berry's experience and maturity could bring a lot to the team.

Johnson noted that Berry's performance numbers were impressive, ranking in the top three in many categories and the top five in most. Berry has been racing for his job after being let go by Wood Brothers Racing, with Jesse Love taking his place. In the six races before his current run, Berry's best finish was 25th in Atlanta. Legacy's decision to bring Berry on board aligns with their future plans as they aim to take the team to new heights in the coming years.