One of Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club drivers revealed his retirement could be coming sooner than expected.

Erik Jones, who drives the No. 43 car for LMC in the NASCAR Cup Series, recently spoke to Motor Racing Network’s Steve Post about his career plans and balancing a variety of responsibilities, which now include being the father to a one-year-old. It comes after a NASCAR settlement gave team owners more than 40 million reasons to thank Michael Jordan.

“I was talking with somebody yesterday and we were kind of laughing about my schedule at times and how busy it gets,” Jones said. “I told them, I’m just frontloading my whole life and career right now.”

“It’s all stuff I love, and with the young one now, it’s gotten even busier,” he added. “But you know it’s fun to kind of balance all that time and get to figure out how to make it all work.”

Jones, 29, originally joined Richard Petty Motorsports, which eventually became Petty GMS Motorsports and later Legacy Motor Club, in October 2020, and recently signed a multi-year contract extension in August 2024 to stay with the Johnson-owned team.

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In five seasons with LCM, Jones has won one race, the 2022 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and recorded 33 top 10 finishes and nine top five finishes.

Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, who drives the No. 42 car, are LCM’s only two full-time drivers. Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, continues to drive in a part-time role in the No. 84 car.

In 2025, Jones recorded four top five finishes, including a season best third-place finish at the Southern 500 at Darlington, the site of his most recent win in 2022.

In addition to being a full-time NASCAR driver, Jones has found time to participate in super late model races when it does not overlap with his LCM duties. 

Add in his charity work through the Erik Jones Foundation, which he founded in 2021, and the birth of his son in November 2024, and Jones has begun to consider life beyond his racing career.

“It’s been different, in a couple ways. It changes your perspective definitely, it makes you look at things pretty different,” Jones said about how the birth of his son changed his life. “The hardest thing is probably your schedule changes so much… all of a sudden you’re not really on your time anymore, you’re on his time now.”

By Neha Dwivedi, Staff Writer and Jerry Jordan, Editor

On the ninth day of proceedings in the legal battle involving NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the standoff concluded with a settlement. Both sides issued a joint statement confirming the resolution and emphasizing that the agreement is designed to provide long-term stability while laying the groundwork for meaningful growth across the sport in a more competitive landscape.

Under the terms of the settlement, NASCAR will distribute an amendment to existing charter holders outlining updated provisions for execution. Those terms include the introduction of a form of “evergreen” charters, contingent upon mutual consent. However, the financial details of the agreement will remain confidential and will not be made public.

The resolution prompted responses from across the garage, including industry leaders such as Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports. Team Penske owner Roger Penske welcomed the development.

“Today’s settlement is tremendous news for the industry,” Penske said in a written statement. “We are stronger together as a sport and the agreement today allows all of us to focus on what’s important: the continued growth of NASCAR. The sport has never been more competitive and today’s resolution provides the entire industry with a platform that strengthens our business and allows us to continue to entertain our millions of passionate fans in a unified way.”

Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, echoed that sentiment while stressing the broader implications for the sport.

“Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry, and today’s resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters, the future of our sport,” Hendrick’s written comments stated. “For more than 40 years, NASCAR racing has been my passion. I believe deeply in what we can accomplish when we work together. This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders. I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s ahead. When our industry is united, there’s no limit to how far we can go or how much we can grow the sport we love.”

One of those immediate implications came from a team owner, who wished to remain anonymous, saying that his charters just “doubled in value.”

“We were in a bind, we had to sign, but it took someone like (Michael) Jordan to Bob (Jenkins) to stand up to NASCAR,” the source confided to Kickin’ the Tires. “We had sponsor concerns and weren’t sure what would happen if we didn’t take whatever we could get and hope for the best.”

Jordan, the NBA billionaire who co-owns 23XI Racing with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, framed the settlement as a continuation of the original intent behind the lawsuit. He explained the action was always about progress and ensuring the sport evolves in a way that supports teams, drivers, partners, employees, and fans alike.

“ We now have the chance to grow together and make the sport even better for generations to come,” Jordan said. “I’m excited to watch our teams get back on the track and compete hard in 2026.”

Hamlin also addressed the outcome of the case, reflecting on his lifelong connection to NASCAR. He spoke about how racing has shaped his identity and why that bond compelled his team to shoulder the challenges that came with taking a stand. Hamlin said he knew from the beginning the fight was worth it.

“I’ve cared deeply about the sport of NASCAR my entire life,” Hamlin said. “Racing is all I’ve ever known, and this sport shaped who I am. That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challenges that came with taking this stand. We believed it was worth fighting for a stronger and more sustainable future for everyone in the industry. Teams, drivers, and partners will now have the stability and opportunity they deserve. Our commitment to the fans and to the entire NASCAR community has never been stronger. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and now it is time to move forward together and build the stronger future this sport deserves.”

“With this change, we can finally build long-term value and have a real voice in NASCAR’s future,’ said Jenkins, who co-owns Front Row Motorsports. “I’m excited for the road ahead—for the people in the garage, the folks in the stands, and everyone who loves this sport.”

During the trial, he testified that he had never made a profit from NASCAR. He noted that it had long been evident that the sport required a structure that treated teams, drivers, and sponsors fairly while preserving competitive integrity. This settlement offers that opportunity.

NASCAR CEO and Chairman, Jim France, whose father, Bill France Sr., first created NASCAR during a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla., stated that he believes the agreement will help the growth of the sport going forward. He was the primary holdout, repeatedly refusing to grant permanent charters to the teams. In the end, he acquiesced, possibly because the trial was not going in NASCAR’s favor and possibly because sponsors began questioning the logic behind the decisions being made from the top.

“This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always been our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948,” France stated. “We worked closely with race teams and tracks to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series. Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come. We are excited to return the collective focus of our sport, teams and racetracks toward an incredible 78th season that begins with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.”

Talk about making a good first impression.

Lionel Racing has released its list of top selling NASCAR cars for 2025 and number one was only in one race.

JR Motorsports made its Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 with Justin Allgaier driving the Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet to a ninth place finish, but he took the top spot on the sales chart.

The clean version of the car was the best-seller and the raced version, complete with battle scars and repairs, took the third spot.

See It: DODGE RETURNS TO STOCK CAR RACING

In between them was the throwback Budweiser late model that Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove to 10th place in the Cars Tour race at Anderson Motor Speedway in August. The paint scheme was inspired by his 2001 Pepsi 400-winning car.

Next up was the Atlanta-winning NAPA sponsored Chevy of NASCAR’s most popular driver Chase Elliott, while the Daytona 500-winning car of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, was fifth.

CLICK TO BOOST AMERICAN CARS AND AND RACING IN YOUR SEARCH RESULTS

Kyle Larson’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning Chevy took the sixth and seventh spots with the clean and raced versions, which were followed by Connor Zilisch’s Red Bull Cup Series car, Josh Berry’s Wood Brothers Racing Las Vegas-winning Ford and Shane van Gisbergen’s Red Bull Chevy.

“These best-sellers reflect the incredible diversity of NASCAR fandom — from legendary names like Dale Earnhardt Jr. to rising stars like Connor Zilisch, Lionel CEO Howard Hitchcock said in a news release.

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“Each die-cast tells a story of triumph and tradition, and we’re proud to bring these moments to fans and collectors everywhere.

Allgaier will be back in the No. 40 car next February attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500 again, so he could repeat on the 2026 Lionel list.

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NASCAR team investors and executives have reportedly stated that their charter values have already gone up extensively since Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s $365 million antitrust lawsuit was settled this week.

On Thursday, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports received a substantial financial boost after NASCAR settled its antitrust lawsuit on Day 9 of the trial. The two Cup Series teams launched the lawsuit against the sanctioning body in October of last year.

A year of legal back-and-forth ensued until the case ended up at trial in a North Carolina courthouse, with 23XI Racing owners Jordan and Hamlin in attendance as they fought and potentially risked losing millions – along with their place in the sport.

But in a surprise move, a settlement was reached on Thursday – before NASCAR had given it’s defense. Elements of the settlement agreement immediately came to light, with NASCAR teams getting permanent “evergreen charters.” 

Since then, some industry execetuvies believe their charter may even double from around $45 million to even get close to the $90 million mark – with Jordan and Hamlin’s legal win aiding this.

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Sports Business Journal contacted several teams who were asked about the charter price will rise, with some teams even suggesting that it could double.

In the post-court briefing after the settlement, the charters were discussed and agreed to remain ‘evergreen’ – being in place for the long-term so that their value will continue to rise.

Permanent charters also create a more reliable environment for sponsorship, whereas deals in NASCAR are often more short-term – perhaps making life difficult for brand to commit to deals that they perhaps would like to.

Jordan and Hamlin were both seen smiling as they left court on Thursday, knowing that they had scored a huge win over NASCAR.

Tony Stewart relished the opportunity to compete against Chase Elliott and his father, Bill, in the Camping World SRX Series before NASCAR top brass expressed concern about letting their biggest stars compete in the series.

During this week’s NASCAR antitrust trial, newly surfaced text messages shed light on the sanctioning body’s disdain for the SRX Series — a startup stock car racing circuit founded by Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham in July 2020.

In a series of message chains, NASCAR executives criticized drivers and team owners for participating in the SRX Series — particularly signaling out Elliott, who piloted the stylized No. 9 in the rival series. In response to one redacted sender who wrote, “Oh great, another owner racing in SRX,” NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell replied: “This is NASCAR. Pure and simple. Enough. We need legal to take a shot at this.”

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps expressed a similar sentiment, chiming in: “These guys are just plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series.”

Even without the support of NASCAR, Elliott competed in the SRX Series on multiple occasions — most notably emerging victorious in the 2021 season finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The Cup Series driver crossed the finish line a mere .439 of a second before Stewart after fending off multiple challenges from his dad throughout the 77-lap race.

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“I had a ball. I got to race against two of my heroes,” Elliott said at the time. “I got to race against Dad there throughout the race and those are moments I will cherish forever. Just super thankful to be here.”

Despite settling for a second-place finish, Stewart was still all smiles following his tight battle against two members of the Elliott family. “How could you ask for more than to finish between two Elliotts?” Stewart said. “That’s pretty bada— in itself, and we really appreciate NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports for letting Chase come run with us. It means a lot to us, it means a lot to Bill.”

With just over 20 laps remaining in the race, Elliott and Bill exchanged the lead three separate times while racing door-to-door. “I don’t know who lit a fire under him,” the younger Elliott said of his dad.

“I had not seen that in him in years. It was amazing and a lot of fun. I thought it was going to be between he and I. I think he just got a little high into one and missed that restart. Other than that, it was so much fun.”

On Lap 55, Elliott finally sped past Bill to claim the lead position for good. “Man, I tell you what, it was a lot of fun,” Bill said. “I knew the way the tires were on these cars and the way Chase manages his stuff, he was going to be hard to beat. I know he didn’t have the best car, but he knows how to get it to the end.”