Jimmie Johnson emphasizes a future for Erik Jones & Co. without impacting finances while planning his 2025 schedule

Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has an eye on the future for Legacy Motor Club, a team he co-owns with fellow seven-time champion Richard Petty. The driver of the #84 LMC Toyota wants to continue racing part-time while also being mindful of his team's financial well-being.

After a 28th-place finish in Sunday's race at Las Vegas, the 83-time Cup Series race winner was asked by Frontstretch reporter Dalton Hopkins if he would run another limited schedule in 2025. He replied:

"I've thought about it. We're just trying to make sure that it's not costing the team anything, it's not hurting the 42 and 43 [cars]. We don't have it put together yet, but I'll be out there a few times at least." [1:05 onwards]

LMC fields two full-time cars with John Hunter Nemechek wheeling the #42 car and Erik Jones piloting the #43 machine. Nemechek finished ninth in Sunday's 267-lap event while Jones came home 25th.

Johnson, meanwhile, makes sporadic appearances in the #84 car. The California native has made eight starts this season with a best finish of 28th three times. The former driver of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet plans to run in the season finale race at Phoenix.

In his first Cup Series appearance in three weeks, Johnson commented on how his race unfolded:

"It was great to be back in the race car. I'm so thankful that Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Toyota support me to be out there. We're learning a lot, getting our car put together, getting our program together. We had a great run with the 42 car, 43 car had some speed. We weren't doing too bad, just sadly missed a lucky dog scenario and just got trapped down a lap... All in all, a decent run and excited to run in Phoenix in a couple more weeks." [0:05 onwards]

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Jimmie Johnson gave insight to his struggles in the NextGen car

Since the NextGen car emerged onto the Cup Series scene in 2022, Jimmie Johnson has struggled to get a handle on it since returning to the series part-time in 2023. In Sunday's post-race interview with Frontstretch, the 49-year-old shared his thoughts on his troubles with NASCAR's newest car:

"We already make speed in this car for a long long time. Easy in, first one back to the gas – that mentality really worked well with the old-generation car. It’s not the case with this car. It’s a much different approach with corner entry, with a whole lot of throttle controlling the car in. Slowly getting the hang of that. It’s pretty amazing how sensitive your right foot is to control that." [0:38 onwards]

Johnson retired from full-time Cup Series competition at the end of the 2020 season. He left behind one of the greatest careers in history, winning seven championships, which is tied for the most all-time with Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt. Johnson also won a record-breaking five straight championships from 2006-2010.

In November 2022, Johnson purchased an ownership stake in Petty GMS Motorsports. The team was renamed Legacy Motor Club ahead of the 2023 season, with Johnson and Petty serving as the team's co-owners.