Jimmie Johnson’s No. 84 Legacy Motor Club team has announced a change in their seasoned lineup as they celebrate the joining of Gene Wachtel as rew chief for the legendary seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, replacing Jason Burdett who parted ways with the team in August.
This surprising update was officially unveiled in the team’s weekly race preview on Tuesday.
Transitioning from a dominant career in NASCAR to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021 and 2022, Johnson has had a difficult return to NASCAR as a part-time driver and co-owner of Legacy Motor Club in 2023. Despite his historic success, his experience with the Next Gen cars has seen limited success this year, with his best performances being 28th place finishes at both the Daytona 500 and Dover Motor Speedway this year.
The recent crew chief change is a big pivot for the team. Jason Burdett, who previously served as Johnson’s crew chief, moved to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to work with Tanner Gray and the No. 15 Tricon Garage team following his departure from Legacy Motor Club. With big changes in their leadership structure, Johnson’s team is looking to take a new direction with Wachtel at the helm.
Gene Wachtel brings a wealth of experience and technical knowledge to his new role. Wachtel’s career began in 2005 with Dodge Motorsports as a Test Team Manager and extended through various high-impact roles at Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and General Motors.
Johnson commented on bringing the talented Wachtel onto the team:
“It’s been a few weeks since I have been behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle so I’m ready to get back to work. Having Gene on board as crew chief will be great for our team, as he has great experience on the engineering side.
“We had a great run going at Kansas in the spring, and our day got cut short so my goal is to pick up where we left off and put together a competitive race for the No. 84 team.”
Most recently, Wachtel served as a simulation consultant and engineering developer before joining Pratt & Miller in 2017 to advance data analytics strategies and software development. Prior to his appointment as crew chief, he was the Performance Director for Legacy Motor Club, a role he will continue to hold alongside his new duties.
“I’m excited to work with Jimmie and the 84 crew this weekend in Kansas,” Wachtel said. “I had a very small role as Jimmie’s data engineer during his first championship season and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to come full circle and lead the 84 team this weekend at Kansas.”
This leadership change within Johnson’s team arrives at a crucial point as the final stretch of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season approaches. Johnson has three races left: the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 20, and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. The expertise and fresh perspective Wachtel offers could be the catalyst needed to turn their season around.
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