DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek are not in contention for the championship, but that didn't keep them from beating some of the biggest names in NASCAR and scoring dual top-fives for Legacy Motor Club in the Southern 500.
This already marked a career night for Legacy Motor Club, but it meant more to Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. This was the performance they should have delivered in July's Brickyard 400.
"I mean, this is what Indy should have been for us a couple of months ago," Jones said on pit road after the race. "We had speed like this and both guys, both cars, screwed it up and didn't have the day we should have.
"And so, we both executed really well."
This TEAM!!! pic.twitter.com/QqOH8Qaw6a
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) September 1, 2025
Sunday's Southern 500 featured both Legacy Motor Club cars starting in the back half of the field. They did not remain there for very long. Nemechek worked his way to ninth by the end of stage 1. Jones ended the segment in 13th place.
The two drivers continued moving through the field in stage 2. Jones worked his way to third place multiple times and locked up eight points for the segment. Nemechek crossed the line in eighth place and added three more points to his total.
The final stage featured both Jones and Nemechek chasing down Chase Briscoe, who dominated by leading 309 laps, and Tyler Reddick in second. They couldn't quite work past either of their fellow Toyota drivers due to a combination of dirty air and wearing tires, but they still scored their best finishes of the season.
"It's frustrating to be that close," Jones said. "It's encouraging to have good speed. But, yeah, I just needed to get ahead of them.
"I felt like we were probably the best of the three there up front at the end. I just couldn't do anything to get a run. I was really late on tires and really slick."
John Hunter Nemechek delivered a career-best fourth-place finish in the Southern 500 as both @LEGACYMotorClub cars finished inside the top five.
As both drivers acknowledged, this was a rebound from struggles in the Brickyard 400. pic.twitter.com/hAs5aXxGmq— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) September 1, 2025
The Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway played out differently for the two Legacy Motor Club drivers. Jones qualified third. Nemechek started 36th. Yet, they both showed speed while moving through the field and putting themselves in contention for top-10 finishes.
Jones's night came to an early end due to a loose wheel. The wheel disconnected and bounced toward the wall on Lap 89. The No. 43 Toyota followed and slammed hard into the wall.
This incident took place two laps after Jones gave up third place to make a trip down pit road for fresh tires and fuel.
Nemechek salvaged a solid finish in the Brickyard 400 after issues in pre-race sessions. He slammed into the wall during qualifying and started at the back of the pack.
He had the speed to work his way into the top 10 late in the race, but he fell back to 18th with six laps remaining after pitting under caution. He worked his way back up to 12th by the time the checkered flag waved.
"The Brickyard, we had probably two of the fastest race cars there," Nemechek told AltDriver at Darlington. "I hit the fence qualifying, and then they had a wheel come off on the 43 during the race. So, yes, it feels good to rebound from that."
Jones now has four top-five finishes on the season and an average finish of 18.9. These are his best marks since the 2022 season when he won the Southern 500 in the No. 43 Chevrolet.
Nemechek, for comparison, has seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives, and an average finish of 19.4. These are all career-best marks.