STATESVILLE, N.C. — The line between real-world racing and virtual racing continues to get thinner.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB announced a new multi-year partnership with Fanatec on Wednesday, bringing one of sim racing’s most recognizable brands into the NASCAR Cup Series paddock through the 2027 season.
The agreement will place Fanatec branding on John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE at five races over the next two seasons, but both sides see the partnership as much more than a sponsorship decal.
Instead, it’s about connecting NASCAR’s future with a rapidly growing audience that first discovered motorsports through a simulator.
“Sim racing has changed how people connect with motorsports, and Fanatec has been at the center of that shift,” said seven-time Cup Series champion and LEGACY co-owner Jimmie Johnson.
The partnership includes a permanent sim racing installation at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Statesville headquarters, giving drivers and team personnel year-round access to Fanatec’s technology. It will also feature fan experiences, interactive race weekend activations, driver appearances and digital content designed to bridge the gap between esports and NASCAR.
For Nemechek, the collaboration feels like a natural fit.
Like many modern drivers, he grew up using simulators as both a training tool and a way to compete outside of race weekends.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the simulator throughout my career, and having the right equipment makes a real difference,” Nemechek said. “It’s exciting to partner with a brand that is so committed to performance.”
The timing reflects a larger trend across motorsports.
Sim racing has evolved from a niche hobby into a critical development tool for professional drivers, while also serving as an entry point for younger fans who may not yet have attended a race. NASCAR teams have increasingly embraced simulator technology in recent years, and Fanatec has become one of the leading names in that space.
The partnership also highlights LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s continued effort to modernize its approach both on and off the track since Johnson became a co-owner.
“This partnership is a natural fit because both organizations are focused on innovation and bringing fans closer to the sport,” said Fanatec Vice President and General Manager Tobias Stelzer.
One key component will be race weekend activations, where hospitality guests will have the chance to drive virtual versions of the same cars competing on track using Fanatec equipment.