Erik Jones is 21st within the sequence standings, after ending eighth at Atlanta Motor Speedway final weekend in his first top-10 of the season, whereas rookie team-mate Noah Gragson is 27th following his a private greatest end of 12th.
Since final November when the previous Petty GMS Racing group introduced its new part-owner in seven-time Cup Sequence champion Johnson, the rebranded LMC outfit has undergone many adjustments together with new personnel and adjustments in obligations for a number of who already labored there.
Requested about LMC’s begin to the 12 months, Johnson mentioned on Friday at Circuit of the Americas that the group was attempting to not “overreact” to the efficiency to date this season.
“A lot adjustments from 12 months to 12 months. You go to Daytona and all of us really feel like all of us had good vehicles and have been aggressive,” mentioned the 47-year-old, who ended his full-time NASCAR profession on the finish of 2020 earlier than spending two years racing in IndyCar.
“California is after that. We had some bizarre stuff go on with the splitter and all that dust and rock and all of the particles that was on the observe that the splitters delaminated on our vehicles.
“It’s very easy to take a look at that and say that’s the rationale why our efficiency wasn’t the place it wanted to be.”
With the sequence having competed on superspeedways, an intermediate observe and a shorter observe (Phoenix), Johnson mentioned the organisation has a very good quantity of information to raised consider the place it stands within the improvement of its vehicles.
“We’re not the place we wish to be, however there’s infinite work happening within the store,” mentioned Johnson.
Noah Gragson, Legacy Motor Membership, Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Membership, Allegiant Chevrolet
Photograph by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Images
“I’m very grateful for the crew chiefs, for Joey Cohen (vp of racing operations) and his arduous work and focus that’s gone into it and all of the engineering that’s behind it.
“We’re digging alongside. We haven’t hit our peak for the season but and I feel we now have an thought of the place our short-track vehicles are, what we have to work on – mile-and-half stuff and positively the restrictor-plate tracks.”
Johnson added that, to his shock, he has been working extra on the enterprise aspect at Legacy MC, as he tries to tailor the races by which he competes to assist each the competitors and enterprise sides of the group.
He’s presently scheduled to compete within the Coca-Cola 600 in Could and the Cup Sequence’ first avenue race in July in Chicago, however will add extra.
“My focus level nonetheless actually has been on the enterprise advertising and marketing facet of the group,” he mentioned.
“I sit in on loads of conferences and debriefs and have a pulse of what’s going on in our competitors division.
“For those who would have requested me 4 or 5 months in the past the place I’d most likely spend most of my time, I’d suppose naturally on the competitors aspect, however there’s actually been extra on the enterprise aspect.”
