Richard Petty Motorsports facts for kids
 |
|
| Owner(s) | Richard Petty Andrew M. Murstein Douglas G. Bergeron |
|---|---|
| Base | Welcome, North Carolina |
| Series | NASCAR Cup Series |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Closed | 2021 |
| Career | |
| Debut | Cup Series 2009 Daytona 500 (Daytona) Xfinity Series 2009 NAPA Auto Parts 200 (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve) |
| Latest race | Cup Series 2021 Season Finale 500 (Phoenix Raceway) Xfinity Series 2016 Hisense 4K TV 300 (Charlotte) |
| Races competed | Total: 1,027 Cup Series: 900 Xfinity Series: 127 |
| Drivers' Championships | Total: 0 Cup Series: 0 Xfinity Series: 0 |
| Race victories | Total: 7 Cup Series: 5 Xfinity Series: 2 |
| Pole positions | Total: 10 Cup Series: 9 Xfinity Series: 1 |
Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) was a professional stock car racing team in America. They competed in the top NASCAR series, the NASCAR Cup Series. The team started in 2009 when two other racing teams, Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Enterprises, joined together. George Gillett Jr. was the main owner at first.
Later in 2009, RPM teamed up with Yates Racing and began using Ford cars for the 2010 season. In 2010, new investors, including Andrew M. Murstein, Douglas G. Bergeron, and racing legend Richard Petty himself, bought the team. In 2021, the team was sold to Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., who owned GMS Racing. The two teams then combined to form Petty GMS Motorsports, which later became Legacy Motor Club.
Team History
In January 2009, Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises joined forces. Petty Enterprises was having trouble finding sponsors for its cars. The new team was named Richard Petty Motorsports. Richard Petty and Ray Evernham only owned a small part of the new team.
Towards the end of 2009, the team announced they would stop using Dodge cars. They decided to switch to Ford instead. They also merged with Yates Racing, a team known for successful NASCAR drivers.
By 2010, RPM faced financial problems. Their main driver, Kasey Kahne, announced he would leave the team. Kahne was later released early. The Gillett family, who owned the team, had money troubles. This led to rumors that RPM might close down. At one point, their cars were even taken away because of payment issues.
In November 2010, Richard Petty teamed up with investors to buy the racing team. This group included Medallion Financial, led by Andrew M. Murstein, and DGB investments, led by Douglas G. Bergeron. Richard Petty once again led a race team and owned a part of it. After 2010, the team became smaller, going from four cars to two.
In 2015, RPM started making their own car bodies. By 2016, they began building their own car frames. This meant they relied less on other racing companies for parts. For the 2018 season, RPM changed their partnership again. They teamed up with Richard Childress Racing and switched to Chevrolet cars.
On December 1, 2021, RPM sold most of its shares to GMS Racing. The deal included the rights to two racing cars. The No. 43 car continued to race, and the other car's rights went to GMS's No. 42 car.
NASCAR Cup Series
Car No. 19 History
- Elliott Sadler (2009–2010)
Elliott Sadler drove the No. 19 car for Gillett Evernham Motorsports before RPM was formed. In 2009, Sadler was almost replaced, but a deal was made for him to stay. He had five top-ten finishes that year. In 2010, Stanley was the team's main sponsor. Sadler decided to leave the team mid-season because of poor results. The No. 19 team then stopped racing.
Car No. 43 History
- Reed Sorenson (2009)
In 2009, Reed Sorenson became the driver of the No. 43 car. The car had many different sponsors. Sorenson only had one top-ten finish, which was ninth at the Daytona 500. He was released from the team at the end of the season.
- A. J. Allmendinger (2010–2011)
A. J. Allmendinger took over the No. 43 car for the 2010 season. He finished 19th in points. In 2011, Allmendinger improved, finishing 15th in points. However, the main sponsor, Best Buy, decided not to continue. Allmendinger then left RPM to join Penske Racing.
- Aric Almirola (2012–2017)
Aric Almirola replaced Allmendinger in the No. 43 car for 2012. He earned a pole position at Charlotte and had one top-five finish. He finished 20th in points. In 2013, Almirola continued to drive the No. 43. He had many top-ten finishes and ended the season 18th in points, his best career result.
In 2014, RPM signed Almirola to a new three-year contract. Sponsor Smithfield Foods also increased their support. Almirola had a tough start to 2014, being in a big crash at the Daytona 500. He later achieved his best career finish of third at Bristol.
At the 2014 Coke Zero 400, Almirola won his first career Cup Series race. He avoided two big crashes, and the race was stopped early due to rain. This win was very special for RPM and for Richard Petty, as it happened exactly 30 years after Petty's 200th win. Almirola's win also guaranteed him a spot in the playoffs. He was eliminated early after a crash at Dover.
.jpg)
In 2015, Almirola narrowly missed making the playoffs. He finished 17th in points. For 2016, Brian Scott replaced Sam Hornish Jr. as Almirola's teammate. The team had a strong start at the Daytona 500 but then struggled. Almirola finished 26th in points. After 2016, RPM decided to focus on only one car, the No. 43.
In 2017, Almirola started strong with a fourth-place finish at the Daytona 500. However, he was involved in a serious crash at Kansas. He suffered a broken vertebra and missed several races. Regan Smith and Bubba Wallace filled in for him. Almirola returned in July. In September 2017, it was announced that Almirola and Smithfield Foods would leave RPM.
- Bubba Wallace (2018–2020)
For the 2018 season, Bubba Wallace took over the No. 43 car. He was a rookie that year. He had an amazing second-place finish at the 2018 Daytona 500. Wallace finished the season 28th in points.
In 2019, Wallace had a tough start at the Daytona 500 due to a crash. He often finished outside the top 15. However, he had a great third-place finish at the Brickyard 400. In September 2020, Wallace announced he would not return to RPM for the 2021 season.
- Erik Jones (2021)
On October 21, 2020, RPM announced that Erik Jones would drive the No. 43 car. In the 2021 season, Jones had six top-ten finishes. He finished 24th in the points standings.
Car No. 44 History
2009–2015: No. 9
- Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola (2009–2010)
Kasey Kahne had driven the No. 9 car since 2004. He continued with the No. 9 after RPM was formed. In 2009, Kahne won two races and made it into the Chase for the championship. He finished 10th in points. In 2010, Kahne won a qualifying race at Daytona. However, the team struggled with consistency. Kahne left the team before the end of the season. Aric Almirola finished the remaining races in the No. 9 car.
Marcos Ambrose (2011–2014)
Marcos Ambrose became the driver of the No. 9 car in 2011. He had a great year, winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. He finished the season with 12 top-ten finishes. Ambrose won again at Watkins Glen in 2012. In 2013, he didn't win but had six top-ten finishes.
Sam Hornish Jr. (2015)
In September 2014, Marcos Ambrose announced he would leave NASCAR. Later, it was announced that Sam Hornish Jr. would drive the No. 9 car in 2015. Hornish struggled during the year. He had only three top-ten finishes and ended up 26th in points. Richard Petty announced that Hornish would not return after the season.
Brian Scott (2016)
Brian Scott replaced Hornish for 2016. The car number was changed from 9 to 44. Scott had his best career finish, coming in second at Talladega. A few weeks later, he announced he would retire for family reasons. The No. 44 team's equipment was later sold.
Car No. 98 History
2009: No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
- A. J. Allmendinger (2009)
When RPM was formed, the team expanded to four cars. A. J. Allmendinger was signed to drive the new No. 44 car. He started the year with a strong third-place finish at the Daytona 500. Allmendinger had a good season, considering the team's early challenges. He had one top-five finish and six top-ten finishes. He finished 24th in points. He moved to the No. 43 car the next year.
2010: No. 98 Menards Ford
- Paul Menard (2010)
In 2010, Paul Menard drove the No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion. Menard had similar results to Allmendinger the previous year. He had one top-five finish and six top-ten finishes. He finished 23rd in points. Menard left the team for 2011, taking his sponsor with him. This caused the No. 98 team to close down.
Xfinity Series
Car No. 09 History
- Richard Petty Motorsports (2011–2014)
In 2011, RPM entered a car for Marcos Ambrose in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal. The car was prepared by Roush Fenway Racing. Ambrose won the race, ending a streak of bad luck for him at that track.
In 2013, Marcos Ambrose drove the No. 9 Ford Mustang at Mid-Ohio, finishing seventh. The No. 9 car also raced at Homestead with Corey Lajoie driving.
In 2014, Ambrose returned to the series in the No. 09 Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen. He won that race as well.
Car No. 43 History
- Michael Annett (2012–2013)
In 2012, the No. 9 car was renumbered to No. 43. Michael Annett became the driver, bringing his sponsorship from Pilot Flying J.
- Dakoda Armstrong (2014–2015)
After Annett moved to the Cup Series, RPM hired Dakoda Armstrong to drive the No. 43. He brought sponsorship from WinField. Armstrong drove for two seasons before leaving in 2015.
- Jeb Burton (2016)
In 2016, Jeb Burton joined the team to drive the No. 43. The team was doing well, but it was suspended after a sponsor failed to keep their agreement with RPM.
Images for kids
-
Sadler making a pit stop in his No. 19 RPM car at Dover in 2010
-
Sorenson's No. 43 during the 2009 Aaron's 499
-
A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 43 at Pocono Raceway in 2011
-
Almirola's 2013 Sprint Cup car, the same Air Force scheme he took to victory lane at Daytona in 2014
-
Aric Almirola in the No. 43 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2017
-
Bubba Wallace in the No. 43 at Sonoma Raceway in 2018
-
Erik Jones in the No. 43 at Sonoma Raceway in 2021
-
Kasey Kahne at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2009
-
Marcos Ambrose in the No. 9 at Pocono Raceway in 2011
-
Driver Sam Hornish Jr. (second from left) and the No. 9 team at Sonoma in 2015.
-
Brian Scott in the No. 44 at Daytona International Speedway in 2016.
-
Paul Menard in the No. 98 during the 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350
-
The No. 43 driven by Michael Annett at Road America in 2013
-
Dakoda Armstrong at Road America in 2014.
Error: no page names specified (help).
In Spanish: Richard Petty Motorsports para niños
