LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson today announced the appointment of Calvin “Cal” Wells III as the club’s Chief Executive Officer. Wells brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the motorsports industry to the Statesville, N.C.- based team.
Wells, 68, started his professional career by founding Precision Preparation, Inc. (PPI) in 1979. His relationship with car manufacturer Toyota began in 1982. Over the next 25 years, PPI dominated the off-road circuit, fielded multiple cars in open-wheel racing, and won at the highest level in the NASCAR Cup Series. After PPI, Wells successfully led the corporate restructuring of Michael Waltrip Racing as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President until 2011. He then started LNGA Consulting, offering his vast knowledge and experience in building businesses in motorsports, aviation, and security assisting clients with business development.
Gallagher has an eye for ability, as he tabbed NASCAR’s new generation of talent – Erik Jones and Noah Gragson – to pilot the team’s two full-time Cup Series entries. He is also a successful entrepreneur and is currently the Chairman of Allegiant Travel Company and the Chair of the 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Committee in Las Vegas.
“Cal’s start with LEGACY M.C. is the start of a new era,” said Gallagher. “With the addition of Cal, we have the right people in place. He has more than 40 years of experience in racing and his senior management experience will shine through immediately. We have had a season of many changes starting with Jimmie partnering with the team and the re-branding of our team, so the addition of Cal is the ‘icing on the cake’ for us right now.”
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and team co-owner Johnson was recently named as a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024, an appointment that will be determined by vote on Aug. 2 in Charlotte, N.C.
“I’ve known Cal for my entire career, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club. His impressive background and deep understanding of the industry – on both the racing and business side – make him the perfect fit for this role,” said Johnson. “Under Cal’s guidance, we are confident his leadership will take us to the next level during many upcoming transitions of the manufacturer change as well as continuing to build our brand.”
“I am truly honored and excited to be part of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB,” said Wells. “Together, we will build on the strong foundation and accomplishments of the past, while driving forward with renewed focus and collaboration. The future performance of all facets of this club will be something we will all be proud of for years to come. It’s going to be something special.”
Wells has been consulting with LEGACY M.C. recently and will assume his newly named role within the club immediately.
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for drivers Noah Gragson and Erik Jones, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.
In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.
Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
