Guy Fieri becomes ‘strategic owner’ of NASCAR team

STATESVILLE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A television food star is the latest big name to join a star-powered NASCAR ownership group.

Guy Fieri joined Legacy Motor Club as a “strategic owner,” the team announced on Thursday.

Fieri, known for his numerous Food Network programs, including the ever-popular show “Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives,” is joining the NASCAR team that is steeped in history.

“Motorsports and race cars have always had that raw energy I love -- the people, the passion, the culture, the speed,” Fieri shared.

Seven-time champions Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty are also team partners.

“Legacy Motor Club is building something different, and I wanted to be part of it. This is about more than racing -- it’s about creating a brand that connects with fans everywhere, from the track to the table,” Fieri said.

Legacy Motor Club said Fieri’s involvement with the team would include plans for collaborative content, fan engagement initiatives, and merchandise that combines racing, food and lifestyle culture.

“Guy has built an incredible brand by being authentic and connecting with people in a real way,” Johnson said. “That’s at the heart of what we’re building here. We want Legacy to reach far beyond race day, and Guy’s creativity, energy, and perspective are exactly what this ownership group is about.”

The team announced in March that music star Darius Rucker had additionally joined Legacy’s ownership group.

Legacy Motor Club fields two full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, with drivers Erik Jones in No. 43 and John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 42 vehicle. Both car numbers are nods to the Petty family’s racing legacy.