Legacy Motor Club makes crew chief change, effective immediately

Mooresville, NC – Legacy Motor Club (LMC) has announced a significant leadership change within its NASCAR Cup Series program, promoting Chais Elaison to the role of crew chief for the No. 42 Chevrolet, effective immediately. This strategic move positions Elaison to lead the team with current driver John Hunter Nemechek for the remainder of the 2024 season, while also laying the groundwork for an anticipated partnership with future driver Josh Berry in 2025.

The promotion of Elaison underscores Legacy Motor Club’s commitment to internal development and fostering talent from within its existing structure. Elaison brings a wealth of technical expertise and a proven track record in engineering and strategy to his new role. Prior to this appointment, he served as Legacy Motor Club’s strategy manager and senior performance engineer, contributing significantly to the team’s technical operations throughout the current season.

"I’m grateful to Legacy for the opportunity to take this next step in my career," said Elaison in a statement released by the team. "I’ve learned a lot working with this group throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to putting that experience to work as we finish out 2024 with John Hunter and begin preparing for 2025. We have a strong group of people around this team, and I’m excited to lead them through the remainder of the season."

Elaison’s background includes a strong academic foundation, holding a degree from Michigan Technological University. His pre-LMC career saw him gain valuable experience as an engineer at prominent NASCAR organizations, including Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing. During his tenure with Hendrick Motorsports, Elaison was part of the championship-winning teams in both the 2016 and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series seasons, demonstrating an understanding of the high-performance environment required for sustained success at the sport’s highest level. He also gained direct crew chief experience last year, serving in an interim capacity with Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen at Kansas Speedway. That weekend, van Gisbergen achieved his first top-ten finish on an oval track under Elaison’s guidance, a performance that highlighted Elaison’s adaptability and leadership potential.

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Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, emphasized the importance of this internal promotion in the team’s long-term vision. "Promoting from within and giving our people the opportunity to grow is central to how we’re building Legacy," Johnson stated. "Chais has shown throughout this season that he’s ready for this. We’re looking forward to seeing what he and the No. 42 team can accomplish over these final races and into 2025."

The appointment of Elaison signals a new chapter for the No. 42 team, which is slated to be driven by Josh Berry in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Berry, a highly regarded competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has signed a multi-year agreement with Legacy Motor Club. This forward-looking strategy indicates LMC’s intent to build a sustained competitive program, with Elaison and Berry expected to form a key driver-crew chief partnership. Elaison’s familiarity with the team’s operational structure and his previous experience will be crucial in integrating Berry and optimizing the No. 42 Chevrolet’s performance.

Elaison succeeds Travis Mack, who departs Legacy Motor Club. Mack’s tenure with the organization saw him contribute to over 200 Cup Series races from atop the pit box. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Daniel Suarez’s first career Cup Series victory at Sonoma Raceway in 2022 while at Trackhouse Racing. Mack has since worked with Trackhouse Racing, Kaulig Racing, and Legacy Motor Club over the past two years.

"We’re thankful to Travis for his many contributions to Legacy and the No. 42 team," Johnson added. "He has played a pivotal role in this organization and helping the CLUB during an important period of growth. We appreciate the foundation for excellence that he has helped build at Legacy and wish him continued success in his next endeavor."

The No. 42 team, under Nemechek’s current driving, has been focused on development and improvement throughout the 2024 season. While results have varied, the team has consistently worked on refining its race strategy and car performance. Elaison’s promotion is expected to inject fresh technical direction and leadership, aiming to elevate the team’s competitiveness in the remaining races and establish a strong foundation for the upcoming season with Berry.

John Hunter Nemechek, a versatile driver with experience across NASCAR’s national series, has been instrumental in providing feedback and driving the development of the No. 42 Chevrolet. His continued presence for the rest of 2024 will provide stability and a direct link for Elaison to assess and implement immediate performance gains. Nemechek’s experience in navigating challenging race weekends and his commitment to pushing the limits of the equipment will be vital as Elaison takes the helm.

The transition comes at a critical juncture in the NASCAR Cup Series season, with teams intensifying their efforts to maximize performance and gather crucial data for future development. Legacy Motor Club, under the ownership of J.J. Yeley and co-ownership of Jimmie Johnson, has been in a period of strategic growth and infrastructure building since its inception. This crew chief change is a testament to that ongoing process, reflecting a clear vision for the future of the No. 42 program.

Chais Elaison’s background in engineering and championship-winning environments suggests a data-driven and analytically focused approach to crew chiefing. His previous role as strategy manager indicates a deep understanding of race management, tire strategy, and in-race adjustments – all critical components for success on the competitive NASCAR circuit. His immediate task will be to refine these elements for the No. 42 team, working closely with Nemechek to extract the best possible results in the closing eight races of the 2024 schedule.

The impending arrival of Josh Berry in 2025 adds another layer of strategic foresight to this crew chief decision. Berry has consistently demonstrated his talent and race-winning capability in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, often overcoming challenging circumstances to contend for victories. Pairing him with a crew chief like Elaison, who possesses a strong engineering acumen and a proven ability to adapt, suggests LMC is aiming to provide Berry with a technically sound and well-supported platform from which to launch his Cup Series career. The early integration of Elaison into the No. 42 team’s operations, even before Berry’s arrival, will facilitate a smoother transition and allow for a more cohesive working relationship to be established.

Legacy Motor Club, which transitioned from the Richard Petty Motorsports charter, has been actively working to establish its identity and competitive standing in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team’s efforts under new ownership have focused on rebuilding its technical infrastructure, attracting talent, and cultivating a winning culture. The promotion of Elaison is a significant step in that direction, showcasing a belief in the team’s internal capabilities and a strategic investment in its future leadership.

The coming weeks will be crucial for Elaison as he assumes his new responsibilities. He will be tasked with not only guiding John Hunter Nemechek through the remainder of the 2024 season but also with initiating the preparatory phases for the 2025 season, including initial strategic planning and personnel alignment for the No. 42 team. The performance of the No. 42 Chevrolet in the upcoming races will offer early indicators of the impact of this crew chief change and the direction LMC is heading.