Legacy Motor Club Betting Big on Justin Alexander to Revitalize Erik Jones In The No. 43
The off-season silence in NASCAR is often deceptive. While the engines are cold, the race shops are burning the midnight oil, and this January, the noise coming out of the Legacy Motor Club camp is loud and clear: they are done settling for mid-pack finishes.
In a move that signals a profound, aggressive shift for the 2026 Cup Series campaign, Legacy Motor Club has handed the keys to the pit box of the legendary No. 43 Toyota to Justin Alexander. He will serve as the crew chief for Erik Jones, a pairing that ownership hopes will finally spark the consistency and fire that have been missing from the team’s recent efforts.
A Fresh Voice for Erik Jones
Let’s be honest about the situation surrounding Erik Jones. The talent behind the wheel has never been in question. You don’t win the Southern 500 twice by accident. But the last few years have been a grind. Finishing 24th in the standings last year, even if it was a four-spot improvement over 2024, isn’t what Jones signed up for, and it certainly isn’t the standard for a car bearing the number made famous by Richard Petty.
Jones needs a general who can make the hard calls when the race is on the line. He needs a strategist who understands how to steal a win when the car is a tenth off the pace. That is exactly the reputation Justin Alexander brings to the table.
Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson, a man who knows a thing or two about the chemistry between a driver and crew chief, sees this as a pivotal alignment.“We’re continuing to evolve and refine every part of our race program, and Justin is a tremendous addition to our crew chief lineup,” Johnson noted.
“His experience, communication style, and leadership align perfectly with the direction we’re headed.”When a seven-time champion talks about “communication style,” you listen. It suggests that the team identified a disconnect in the past and believes Alexander is the bridge to fix it.
Alexander’s Proven Track Record
Justin Alexander isn’t coming to Legacy Motor Club as a hopeful rookie. He’s walking through the doors of Legacy Motor Club with hardware on the shelf. During his tenure at Richard Childress Racing, paired explicitly with Austin Dillon, Alexander proved he knows how to win the races that matter most.
He guided the No. 3 team to victory lane five times. But look at where they won. The 2018 Daytona 500. The Coca-Cola 600. These are Crown Jewel events. These are marathon races that require patience, strategy, and a calm demeanor atop the pit box. That ability to perform under the brightest lights is exactly what the No. 43 team needs to regain its swagger.
Cal Wells III, the CEO of Legacy Motor Club, emphasized this winning pedigree. “Justin is a proven race winner, and we believe there’s the potential for a strong chemistry with Erik,” Wells said. It’s a partnership that, on paper, looks like the perfect blend of a hungry veteran driver and a battle-tested crew chief.
Strengthening the Engineering Room
One of the smartest aspects of this announcement is that it isn’t a “fire and hire” situation. Ben Beshore, who previously called the shots for Jones at Legacy Motor Club, isn’t leaving the organization. Instead, he is moving upstairs to become the Director of Race Engineering.
This is crucial to talent retention. Beshore knows the notebooks. He knows the cars. By moving him into a broader engineering role, Legacy Motor Club is deepening its bench strength.
“We’ll also have Ben raising all ships with the performance engineering group,” Wells added. “With all these changes, we’re hoping to continue the growth we saw in 2025.”It’s a mature move for the organization. Keeping institutional knowledge while injecting fresh energy into the race-day operations is a balancing act that successful teams master.
The Business of Speed
The restructuring isn’t stopping at the competition level. The team also confirmed that Scott Roggenbauer is transitioning from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Operating Officer. It’s a signal that the organization is tightening up its operational efficiency from the boardroom to the garage floor.
As we stare down the barrel of the 2026 season, the question remains: Can this new lineup return the No. 43 to victory lane? The pieces are there. Jones has the foot, Alexander has the brain, and the front office seems to have the stability, finally. Now, they just have to go out there and execute when the green flag drops.
