Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief lands new job at Legacy Motor Club

Another minor Silly Season move. Crew chief Chad Johnston, previously with Stewart-Haas Racing, has found a new job in the NASCAR Cup Series. Legacy Motor Club signed Johnston not as a crew chief, but as Manager of Race Engineering.

Johnston spent last NASCAR season as the crew chief on the No. 41 car driven by Ryan Preece. Now he is on his way to The Club in 2025.

Legacy Motor Club has made a LOT of hires this year. Perhaps more than any other organization. But hiring Johnston feels like a solid move for a Cup program that is still developing.

Welcome to THE CLUB, Chad Johnston!

Read more: https://t.co/tF3KcRLE0e pic.twitter.com/MGEhEhDUIx

— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) November 15, 2024

Chad Johnston has had a good deal of success in the Cup Series. Since 2011, he has crew chiefed for drivers such as Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, and more. He has seven wins to his name, four with Larson in 2017, as well as 11 pole awards.

While Johnston didn’t have an eye-opening two years at Stewart-Haas Racing, there was good reason for that. The organization has been on the decline prior to closing up shop.

In this new role as Manager of Racing Engineering, Johnston has a chance to guide not just one, but all three teams at Legacy Motor Club. He’s ready for this next step in his career.

“I am excited to join Legacy Motor Club and start a new journey in my career and am thankful to Maury [Gallagher], Jimmie [Johnson], and Cal [Wells III] for this opportunity,” said Johnston. “I look forward to the challenges ahead and hope with my experience and knowledge I can help build LEGACY M.C. into a top-tier winning organization.” 

Chad Johnston is a graduate of Indiana State University. He grew up racing open-wheel midgets in the Hoosier state. No wonder he has drifted towards talents like Stewart and Larson during his career.

It feels like everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing is finding a new home. At least in these more public and notable positions. Crew chiefs and drivers alike have found new jobs.

In fact, if Riley Herbst ends up racing with 23XI Racing and Ryan Preece with RFK Racing in 2025, every SHR driver from the Cup and Xfinity program will be in Cup next season. All six. Which makes one wonder just how the last few years could have gone so poorly?

Legacy Motor Club has not had a great last two seasons, either. However, the organization is new. They moved from Chevy to Toyota and they are building their own data and resources instead of leasing or buying them from Joe Gibbs Racing. So, it’s going to take a while to get this thing off the ground.

They have not been afraid to make new hires and depart with former employees. But at some point, the results have to show up on the track.