When fans look at the No. 43 Chevrolet, they see more than just another race car on the NASCAR Cup Series grid. It’s a number steeped in history, tied to Richard Petty’s unmatched legacy, and now carried by Legacy Motor Club with the star power of Jimmie Johnson behind its leadership. Expectations were naturally high when Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time champion, stepped into co-ownership and helped steer the team into a new era. Growth, however, is rarely linear in NASCAR. As the garage has shown time and again, resources, leadership, and vision do not instantly translate into speed.

For Erik Jones, who’s tasked with carrying the weight of performance in the iconic 43, the grind to elevate the program has been anything but easy. Heading into the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Jones offered

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