Celebrity chef Guy Fieri is getting involved in the premier series of stockcar racing by investing in Legacy Motor Club. The NASCAR team — which has seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson as its majority owner — has added Fieri to its stable of investors, calling the chef a “strategic owner.”
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Other investors into the team, which fields Cup Series cars for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones, include Grammy-winning musician Darius Rucker and businessman Maury Gallagher.
“Motorsports and race cars have always had that raw energy I love — the people, the passion, the culture, the speed,” Fieri said in a statement. “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.”
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An accomplished chef and restaurateur, Fieri became a staple in pop culture in the late 2000s during his rise to stardom on the Food Network. He is perhaps most known for hosting the show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” highlighting eateries across the United States. The show has been nominated for six Emmys, and Fieri has won two for other work.
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Fieri received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019 and also appeared in the Adam Sandler film “Happy Gilmore 2” last year.
Legacy Motor Club said in a statement that Fieri’s involvement will extend beyond ownership, with plans for content, fan engagement initiatives and licensed merchandise.
“Guy has built an incredible brand by being authentic and connecting with people in a real way,” Johnson said in a statement. “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.”
Fieri has previously been the grand marshal for races at Pocono, Darlington and Charlotte, and once led the field to the green flag as a pace car driver at Sonoma.
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Legacy Motor Club was formerly Petty GMS Motorsports, the team owned by seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty. Over the course of a few years, Petty sold his controlling ownership in the company to Gallagher and Johnson joined as an owner, rebranding the team as Legacy in 2023.
The team currently has two of NASCAR’s coveted charters and will add a third next season after settling a lawsuit with Rick Ware Racing. The Toyota team is still searching for its first Cup Series victory, though Jones and Nemechek have both come close in recent weeks this season — Jones finished second at Michigan and Nemechek was fourth at Pocono.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NASCAR team Legacy Motor Club adds celebrity chef Guy Fieri as owner
