BROOKLYN, MI – AUGUST 07: Eric Jones, driver of the #43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, drives in the course of the NASCAR FireKeepers On line casino Cup Collection 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on August 7, 2022 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs) | Getty Photographs
The LEGACY MOTOR CLUB introduced at present that NASCAR veteran Todd Gordon will shift crew chief to seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson’s limited-time racing schedule within the No. 84 Chevrolet. As well as, the group introduced a contract extension with Dave Elenz, to stay Erik Jones’ crew and automobile chief. No. 43 Chevrolet by way of 2025. Elenz and Gordon will work alongside NASCAR Rookie of the 12 months candidate Noah Gragson, crew chief Luke Lambert, and the No. 42 group.
As with many professionals within the motorsports trade, Gordon, 53, received his begin as a driver, racing in super-modified restricted editions at Oswego Speedway close to his hometown of Camden, New York. He earned a level in mechanical engineering from Clemson College and after hanging up on a helmet, pursued a profession in NASCAR. Gordon started working within the Busch Collection (now Xfinity) as a manufacturing unit and mechanic in 1998. From 2004 to 2011, Gordon served as crew chief for a number of groups within the Xfinity Collection, compiling seven pole positions, seven wins, and 18 prime 5 finishes, becoming a member of 43 High 10 Participant to Workforce Penske in 2011.
At first of the 2013 season, Gordon was matched up with driver Joey Logano, and led the group to 21 wins, a NASCAR All-Star win in 2017 and a 2018 NASCAR Cup Collection championship. Within the last two seasons of his profession as crew chief, Gordon was paired with Ryan Blaney, successful 4 racing, earlier than saying his retirement on the finish of the 2021 season. All through his profitable profession on the highest stage in NASCAR, he has 18 pole positions, 25 race wins, 123 prime 5 finishes, and 199 prime ten finishes. Gordon is presently a radio sportscaster on the Motor Racing Community (MRN) and is co-host of “Late Shift” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. As soon as the fierce opponents get on the observe, Gordon and Johnson might be navigating the limited-time racing schedule beginning with the DAYTONA 500.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to working with one other champion who nonetheless has the will to compete and win on the highest stage,” mentioned Gordon. “In my conversations with Jimmie, I’ve discovered that we miss the competitors—however don’t desire a number of a full-time schedule—so this can be a nice alternative for us to proceed racing and assist the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB construct on the success they’ve seen in 2022.”
“The strain of ‘making the race’ by way of qualifying and duel races goes to be a little bit hectic with a automobile that Jimmy and I have never labored with but,” Gordon continued. “However the group had actually good vehicles at excessive speeds final season, so now we have nice sources, nice teammates and start line.”
Johnson echoes Gordon’s enthusiasm and anticipation for the upcoming season.
“I’m thrilled to have Todd on board as my Chief of Employees,” Johnson mentioned. “I’ve actually loved attending to know him these previous few weeks. I’ve recognized and revered him as a competitor for a few years and have all the time appreciated his professionalism, work ethic and outcomes. His knowledge and expertise might be helpful to LEGACY MC as an entire. I believe he’ll work very effectively with Dave, Luke and the entire group.”
The 2023 season marks the second 12 months of the pairing of Eric Jones and Dave Ellens underneath the No. 43 banner made well-known by Richard Petty. Of their first season collectively, the pair had one win on the Darlington Southern 500, three prime fives and 13 prime ten finishes.
Ellens, 41, is a local of Gaylord, Michigan and a graduate of Clemson College. He began his profession in 2001 as an engineer. Elenz labored for Jasper Racing, Ginn Racing, and the Purple Bull Racing Workforce earlier than becoming a member of Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Whereas at Hendrick, Elenz was Johnson’s group engineer for the No. 48 group and collectively they gained the 2013 NASCAR Cup Collection title. In 2015 Elenz joined JR Motorsports’ Xfinity Collection group as crew chief. There, Elenz achieved nice success successful 15 races with six completely different drivers and back-to-back Xfinity Collection titles with William Byron in 2017 and Tyler Reddick in 2018. After driving the No. 9 automobile pushed by (Noah) Gragson for 3 seasons, Elenz joined LEGACY MC to Crew chief Jones on the conclusion of the 2021 season.
“I’m excited to proceed my profession for 2023 and past at LEGACY MC,” mentioned Ellens. “We had an important season final 12 months because of Eric and everybody on the group. There’s a number of pleasure and alternative in the mean time at LEGACY MC and I’m actually wanting ahead to getting again on the observe.”
“The quantity of expertise and pedigree of individuals now we have at LEGACY MC is admittedly spectacular,” mentioned Workforce President Mike Beam. “I actually cannot wait to get on the observe and see what we will obtain collectively. Maury (Gallagher), Jimmy and Joey Cohen and I’ve labored arduous in the course of the low season to place the suitable individuals in the suitable place. The expertise that comes with crew chiefs and championship-winning drivers will assist us stick with it the legacy Which Maury and I constructed with GMS Racing and Richard (Petty) and Dale (Inman) constructed with Richard Petty Motorsports and can drive LECACY MC ahead.”
The LEGACY MC participates in a two-day NASCAR accepted take a look at at Phoenix Raceway January 24-25 with Jones and Johnson. That is the primary time that Johnson and Gordon will take a look at the next-generation automobile earlier than they hit the Daytona observe subsequent month.
The NASCAR Cup Collection season will kick off in Los Angeles, California at LA Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, February 5, within the Busch Mild Conflict on the Coliseum. JOIN FOX 8:00 PM ET because the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB makes its extremely anticipated official debut on the observe in an exhibition race previous to the sixty fifth Annual DAYTONA 500.
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