Richard Petty Motorsports

For other uses, see Richard Petty Motorsports (disambiguation).

Richard Petty Motorsports

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 an American professional stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded as a result of the merger between Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Enterprises, with former Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool F.C. owner George Gillett having a controlling interest in the organization. In late 2009, the team merged with Yates Racing and consequently switched to Ford for the 2010 season. Evernham had no involvement in the team by this time.

After funding issues due to the Gillett family's financial woes, in November 2010, an investment group including Andrew M. Murstein and his Medallion Financial Corporation, Douglas G. Bergeron, and Richard Petty himself, signed and closed sale on racing assets of Richard Petty Motorsports. On December 1, 2021, it was announced that GMS Racing owner Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. had purchased a majority stake of the team, including both charters. The next day, Medallion confirmed it had sold all shares to Gallagher. On December 7, it was confirmed that the combined organization would operate under the banner of Petty GMS Motorsports, which was later renamed Legacy Motor Club.

Team history

In the midst of a struggling economy, in January 2009 Gillett Evernham Motorsports merged with fellow Dodge team Petty Enterprises, which could no longer find sponsors for any of its cars, thus expanding the team to four cars. The organization was renamed Richard Petty Motorsports in the process. Ray Evernham was not involved in the merger negotiations, and both he and Richard Petty only maintained minority shares in the new team. Near the end of the season, the team announced its departure from the Dodge banner and switched to Ford. The team would also merge with Yates Racing, owned by Ford head engine builder Doug Yates, which had fielded several successful NASCAR drivers including Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, and Ricky Rudd.

By 2010, RPM's continued operation was put into question when lead driver Kasey Kahne announced his departure by the end of the season for Red Bull Racing Team. Kahne would be released by the team before the second Martinsville race with five events left in the season, after several mechanical failures. Kahne's decision was in the midst of financial problems for the Gillett family in several of their ventures, which included George Gillett defaulting on a $90 million loan he had used to purchase the team. With lackluster performance and rumors from week-to-week that the team would shut down, the chaos peaked in October when RPM's cars for the second Talladega race were briefly confiscated, and again in November when RPM's four team haulers remained parked at Texas Motor Speedway instead of heading to the next race at Phoenix, in both cases due to payment issues with engine and equipment supplier Roush Fenway Racing. The situation was resolved in November, when Richard Petty partnered with Medallion Financial (headed by lead investor Andrew M. Murstein) and DGB investments (headed by Douglas G. Bergeron) to purchase the team for "less than $50 million." Petty once again was at the helm of a race team, and retained a one-third stake in the company by investing "several million dollars" of his own. Murstein had been seeking a sports investment since 2008 when he formed a special purpose acquisition company together with Hank Aaron, a Medallion board member, and others worth $215 million. The team contracted from four teams to two following 2010. Bergeron's share was bought out by Murstein at the end of 2014.

In 2015 the team began fabricating its own bodies, and in 2016 began building its own chassis, reducing its technical reliance on Roush Fenway Racing.

For the 2018 season, RPM switched their alliance from RFR to Richard Childress Racing which also came with a manufacturer switch to Chevrolet.

On December 1, 2021, RPM sold a majority interest in the team to GMS Racing for US$19 million. The deal included both of RPM's charters; the No. 43 continues to operate with its charter while the second charter – which was leased to Rick Ware Racing for the No. 51 from 2019 to 2021 would be transferred to GMS' No. 42.

NASCAR Cup Series

Car No. 19 history

Elliott Sadler (2009–2010)

Prior to the formation of RPM, Elliott Sadler had been driving the No. 19 for Gillett Evernham Motorsports since 2006. In May 2008, Sadler reached a two-year contract extension with GEM. However, on December 27, 2008, GEM announced that A. J. Allmendinger, who drove GEM's No. 10 car at the end of the season, would be replacing Sadler in the No. 19 for the 2009 season. At the same time the team also announced several of its sponsors were considering leaving the team and that Ray Evernham had cleared his personal belongings out of the team's race shop, but it was not clear whether it was related to the hire. On January 3, 2009, Sadler's attorney announced that he would be seeking a breach of contract lawsuit against GEM for the dismissal. Looking to avoid the lawsuit GEM and Sadler's attorneys reached a settlement six days later that would return Sadler to the No. 19 for 2009 while keeping Allmendinger with the team.

Sadler making a pit stop in his No. 19 RPM car at Dover in 2010

Sadler had five top-ten finishes in 2009, and finished twenty-sixth in points. Stanley was the team's sponsor for all 36 races in 2010. Due to a lack of results, Sadler announced his departure from the team in mid-season allowing this team to shut down. The team was considered to return in 2012 after Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer was offered a contract, but RPM withdrew their offer by September, with Bowyer accepting a 3-year contract with Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota Camry. Since then, the team has remained inactive. The number 19 would later be reassigned by NASCAR to Humphrey Smith Racing (which used the 19 in the now-Xfinity Series as TriStar Motorsports), and has since moved again to Joe Gibbs Racing.

Car No. 19 results

Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	Owners	Pts
2009	Elliott Sadler	19	Dodge	DAY 5	CAL 25	LVS 29	ATL 20	BRI 20	MAR 31	TEX 32	PHO 32	TAL 19	RCH 25	DAR 14	CLT 31	DOV 27	POC 25	MCH 12	SON 10	NHA 26	DAY 10	CHI 27	IND 40	POC 24	GLN 32	MCH 25	BRI 26	ATL 21	RCH 34	NHA 8	DOV 30	KAN 20	CAL 32	CLT 26	MAR 21	TAL 9	TEX 22	PHO 28	HOM 41	26th	3350
2010			Ford	DAY 24	CAL 24	LVS 27	ATL 19	BRI 20	MAR 24	PHO 31	TEX 18	TAL 33	RCH 38	DAR 21	DOV 28	CLT 21	POC 31	MCH 21	SON 17	NHA 19	DAY 22	CHI 21	IND 38	POC 34	GLN 29	MCH 9	BRI 29	ATL 41	RCH 27	NHA 21	DOV 17	KAN 28	CAL 13	CLT 26	MAR 28	TAL 14	TEX 23	PHO 28	HOM 28	27th	3234

Car No. 43 history

Further information: Petty Enterprises § Car#43 History

Reed Sorenson (2009)

Sorenson's No. 43 during the 2009 Aaron's 499

On August 26, 2008, Gillett Evernham Motorsports announced the signing of Reed Sorenson to a multi-year contract to drive the No. 10 car. On Thursday January 9, it was announced that Richard Petty would sell his team to GEM, moving Sorenson to the No. 43 for the 2009 season in the process. The 43 ran multiple sponsorships from McDonald's, Valvoline, the United States Air Force, Super 8, Reynolds Wrap, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Charter Communications, Auto Value Bumper to Bumper, Liberty Medical, and Siemens, but only had one top-ten finish; a ninth at the rained-shortened Daytona 500. Sorenson was released the end of the season.

A. J. Allmendinger (2010–2011)

A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 43 at Pocono Raceway in 2011

The team announced they had moved A. J. Allmendinger over to the No. 43 car for the 2010 season; he finished 19th in the points. In 2011, Allmendinger showed continued improvement, especially when he was paired with former Roush Fenway Racing crew chief Greg Erwin. The team would finish 15th in points, but it was not enough to retain Best Buy as a primary sponsor. As a result, Allmendinger was granted a release from RPM and he soon joined Penske Racing.

Aric Almirola (2012–2017)

Almirola's 2013 Sprint Cup car, the same Air Force scheme he took to victory lane at Daytona in 2014

To replace Allmendinger, RPM signed Aric Almirola, who had replaced Kasey Kahne in the 9 car at the end of the 2010 season. Almirola earned a Pole start at Charlotte in May, and collected one top 5 and four top 10s en route to a 20th-place finish in points. Aric's best run of the year may have been at Kansas in October, where he qualified fifth and lead 69 laps after taking the top spot on lap 6. But on lap 121, Almirola blew a tire, sending his Farmland Ford into the wall. He spun on lap 172 racing for the lead and lost a lap on pit road. After getting his lap back and working his way up to 13th, Almirola hit the wall once again, setting the front of the car ablaze and ending the promising run.

In 2013 Almirola returned to the No. 43; at Martinsville Speedway in October, the team ran the No. 41 to honor Maurice Petty's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. During the 2013 season from Martinsville to Darlington, Almirola had the most consecutive Top 10s in the 43 car since Bobby Hamilton in 1996. After being fastest in practice in Talladega, his crew chief Todd Parrott was suspended for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy. Almirola finished a career high 18th in points. For 2014, the team hired Trent Owens, Richard Petty's nephew as crew chief.

In January 2014, RPM announced a three-year contract extension with Almirola after working on one-year deals the previous two seasons. This coincided with sponsor Smithfield Foods stepping up to fund 29 races in each the next three seasons with brands Smithfield, Farmland, Eckrich, and Gwaltney. Almirola had a rather slow start to 2014, being involved in a 12 car wreck in the 2014 Daytona 500. At Bristol, Almirola posted his best career finish to date of 3rd, only behind winner Carl Edwards and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The next week at Auto Club Speedway during the 2014 Auto Club 400, Almirola got involved in an accident with part-time Cup driver Brian Scott. Almirola made a pass on Scott for 4th place. Scott controversially moved into the back of Almirola to wreck himself and Almirola. In a post-race interview, an angry Almirola retorted "The 33 was obviously a dart without feathers and coming across the race track. He ran right into me. Man, he came from all the way at the bottom of the race track and ran into me. He's not even racing this series for points. He's out there having fun because his daddy gets to pay for it and he wrecked us. That's frustrating."

At the 2014 Coke Zero 400, Almirola would earn his first career win in the Sprint Cup Series after avoiding two major wrecks, and leading the field when the race was called off after 112 laps due to rain. His win also marked the first victory by the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43, the first victory for the No. 43 overall in Cup since Petty Enterprises' win at Martinsville in 1999, and 30 years to the day Richard Petty won his 200th race in a Curb Racing No. 43. On his big victory Almirola said "The good Lord was watching out for us today and we were meant to win. It's real special for me to win here. This is not only the 30th anniversary of this team's last win at Daytona, it is my hometown and I remember growing up watching Daytona 500s and Firecracker 400s here. To win is real special." Almirola's win guaranteed him a spot in the newly reformatted Chase for the sprint cup. He was eliminated after the Round of 16 due to a crash at Dover.

Aric Almirola in the No. 43 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2017

Longtime teammate Marcos Ambrose left the team in 2015, and he was replaced by Sam Hornish Jr. as the driver of Petty's other entry. Almirola scored a top-five finish at Dover early in the season but then barely missed out on the Chase in points, finishing sixteen points and one position behind the last man in, Clint Bowyer. Almirola finished fourth in the cut race, doing everything he could to make it in. Despite missing the playoffs, Almirola scored another top-five at Dover, a track that the team had traditionally been strong at. He wound up finishing seventeenth in points, top of the non-Chase field.

For the 2016 season Hornish was replaced by Brian Scott, whom Almirola had previously tangled with in his career. Almirola said that he felt "more excited than ever" and was confident that his extended pairing with crew chief Owens would yield good results. However, after a strong 12th place showing in the 2016 Daytona 500, the team went into a slump, highlighted by last-place finishes at Martinsville, Kansas and in the season's final race at Homestead-Miami. Almirola finished the 2016 season with an average finish of just over 23rd and a 26th-place points finish. After the 2016 season, RPM announced that they would lease the charter of the 44 team and focus solely on Almirola's effort.

The one-car approach paid immediate dividends as Almirola recorded a top ten finish in the 2017 Daytona 500. However, in the season's eleventh race, the 2017 Go Bowling 400, Almirola was caught in a wreck caused by Joey Logano. After Logano lost control of his car and collided with Danica Patrick's car, Almirola's car plowed into Logano's and the back end of the car left the ground. Almirola was then immediately airlifted to a hospital, where he would later be diagnosed with a shattered T5 vertebrae, for which he would miss eight to twelve races. Regan Smith was named as the replacement for the NASCAR All-Star Race, racing until the AAA Drive for Autism at Dover. Roush Fenway Racing's Xfinity Series driver Bubba Wallace made his Cup Series debut in the No. 43, driving the car until Almirola was fit to return to racing. Ford sports car racer Billy Johnson drove the No. 43 at Sonoma. Almirola returned to the car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July. In September 2017, it was announced that Almirola and Smithfield Foods were leaving Richard Petty Motorsports for Stewart-Haas Racing after negotiations to extend the sponsorship deal fell through, although after Petty threatened legal action, Smithfield reached a settlement in which their subsidiary brands such as Food Lion Feeds and Farmer John would sponsor the No. 43 for a portion of the 2018 season.

Bubba Wallace (2018–2020)

Bubba Wallace in the No. 43 at Sonoma Raceway in 2018

For the 2018 season, Wallace replaced Almirola in the No. 43 car who ran for Rookie of the Year honors. He got an impressive second-place finish at the 2018 Daytona 500. On May 1, 2018, World Wide Technology signed on to sponsor the No. 43 car for six races. Wallace finished the season 28th in points and finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year honors.

Wallace started the 2019 season with a 38th-place finish at the 2019 Daytona 500 when Kurt Busch spun in front of him and Tyler Reddick hit him from behind, causing Wallace to collide with Busch. Wallace continued to finish consistently below the top-15, but he managed to make the starting grid of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race by winning stage 2 of the Monster Energy Open. At the 2019 Brickyard 400 Wallace managed to run top 10 the majority of the day and compete for the win with around 10 to go and would go on to finish third. On November 9, Wallace was fined $50,000 and docked 50 points for intentionally manipulating competition at Texas when he spun his car on the track after experiencing a tire failure.

On September 10, 2020, Wallace announced that he would not return to RPM in 2021.

Erik Jones (2021)

Erik Jones in the No. 43 at Sonoma Raceway in 2021

On October 21, 2020, it was announced that RPM had signed Erik Jones to a multi-year contract to drive the 43 car. During the 2021 season, Jones scored six top-10s and finished 24th in the points standings.

Car No. 43 results

Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	Owners	Pts
2009	Reed Sorenson	43	Dodge	DAY 9	CAL 21	LVS 34	ATL 33	BRI 23	MAR 17	TEX 36	PHO 12	TAL 11	RCH 20	DAR 19	CLT 35	DOV 19	POC 20	MCH 27	SON 40	NHA 17	DAY 33	CHI 24	IND 13	POC 35	GLN 31	MCH 29	BRI 19	ATL 27	RCH 16	NHA 36	DOV 35	KAN 26	CAL 31	CLT 21	MAR 24	TAL 16	TEX 36	PHO 26	HOM 40	29th	3147
2010	A. J. Allmendinger		Ford	DAY 32	CAL 25	LVS 25	ATL 6	BRI 17	MAR 38	PHO 15	TEX 13	TAL 19	RCH 17	DAR 37	DOV 14	CLT 14	POC 10	MCH 11	SON 13	NHA 10	DAY 36	CHI 14	IND 16	POC 24	GLN 4	MCH 17	BRI 31	ATL 18	RCH 8	NHA 12	DOV 10	KAN 10	CAL 19	CLT 25	MAR 12	TAL 32	TEX 14	PHO 18	HOM 5	19th	3998
2011				DAY 11	PHO 9	LVS 19	BRI 31	CAL 14	MAR 14	TEX 19	TAL 11	RCH 7	DAR 20	DOV 37	CLT 5	KAN 27	POC 25	MCH 13	SON 13	DAY 10	KEN 28	NHA 12	IND 22	POC 19	GLN 8	MCH 11	BRI 12	ATL 10	RCH 11	CHI 27	NHA 21	DOV 7	KAN 25	CLT 7	TAL 31	MAR 11	TEX 10	PHO 6	HOM 15	15th	1013
2012	Aric Almirola			DAY 33	PHO 12	LVS 24	BRI 19	CAL 25	MAR 8	TEX 22	KAN 23	RCH 26	TAL 12	DAR 19	CLT 16	DOV 6	POC 28	MCH 17	SON 28	KEN 26	DAY 19	NHA 28	IND 19	POC 19	GLN 18	MCH 20	BRI 35	ATL 32	RCH 26	CHI 17	NHA 23	DOV 19	TAL 19	CLT 12	KAN 29	MAR 4	TEX 15	PHO 16	HOM 7	20th	868
2013				DAY 13	PHO 15	LVS 16	BRI 37	CAL 14	MAR 20	TEX 7	KAN 8	RCH 8	TAL 10	DAR 20	CLT 33	DOV 18	POC 21	MCH 17	SON 20	KEN 15	DAY 38	NHA 5	IND 17	POC 20	GLN 37	MCH 18	BRI 15	ATL 20	RCH 20	CHI 13	NHA 21	DOV 22	KAN 10	CLT 23	TAL 22		TEX 27	PHO 19	HOM 16	18th	913
		41																																		MAR 20
2014		43		DAY 39	PHO 15	LVS 25	BRI 3	CAL 43	MAR 8	TEX 12	DAR 24	RCH 17	TAL 13	KAN 8	CLT 11	DOV 12	POC 22	MCH 31	SON 23	KEN 39	DAY 1	NHA 23	IND 21	POC 35	GLN 18	MCH 20	BRI 41	ATL 9	RCH 10	CHI 41	NHA 6	DOV 28	KAN 31	CLT 22	TAL 39	MAR 21	TEX 24	PHO 18	HOM 19	16th	2195
2015				DAY 15	ATL 11	LVS 26	PHO 19	CAL 11	MAR 12	TEX 19	BRI 13	RCH 20	TAL 15	KAN 11	CLT 17	DOV 5	POC 43	MCH 22	SON 14	DAY 34	KEN 12	NHA 15	IND 38	POC 18	GLN 16	MCH 14	BRI 17	DAR 11	RCH 4	CHI 10	NHA 43	DOV 5	CLT 10	KAN 24	TAL 16	MAR 16	TEX 18	PHO 10	HOM 41	17th	940
2016				DAY 12	ATL 15	LVS 24	PHO 13	CAL 21	MAR 40	TEX 24	BRI 34	RCH 21	TAL 27	KAN 18	DOV 31	CLT 26	POC 20	MCH 26	SON 27	DAY 15	KEN 20	NHA 19	IND 25	POC 39	GLN 27	BRI 14	MCH 24	DAR 32	RCH 17	CHI 32	NHA 17	DOV 16	CLT 15	KAN 40	TAL 8	MAR 15	TEX 22	PHO 22	HOM 40	27th	638
2017				DAY 4	ATL 27	LVS 14	PHO 17	CAL 19	MAR 18	TEX 18	BRI 22	RCH 9	TAL 4	KAN 38								NHA 24	IND 13	POC 38	GLN 21	MCH 12	BRI 37	DAR 20	RCH 17	CHI 24	NHA 26	DOV 25	CLT 24	TAL 5	KAN 9	MAR 18	TEX 15	PHO 9	HOM 18	24th	614
	Regan Smith														CLT 22	DOV 34
	Bubba Wallace																POC 26	MCH 19		DAY 15	KEN 11
	Billy Johnson																		SON 22
2018	Bubba Wallace		Chevy	DAY 2	ATL 32	LVS 21	PHO 28	CAL 20	MAR 34	TEX 8	BRI 16	RCH 25	TAL 16	DOV 25	KAN 23	CLT 16	POC 38	MCH 19	SON 29	CHI 23	DAY 14	KEN 27	NHA 24	POC 33	GLN 25	MCH 23	BRI 38	DAR 26	IND 38	LVS 38	RCH 27	CLT 36	DOV 23	TAL 19	KAN 26	MAR 34	TEX 25	PHO 10	HOM 21	30th	471
2019				DAY 38	ATL 27	LVS 26	PHO 22	CAL 30	MAR 17	TEX 23	BRI 20	RCH 27	TAL 39	DOV 27	KAN 29	CLT 25	POC 21	MCH 28	SON 26	CHI 25	DAY 15	KEN 23	NHA 22	POC 22	GLN 28	MCH 27	BRI 14	DAR 24	IND 3	LVS 23	RCH 12	CLT 24	DOV 20	TAL 24	KAN 35	MAR 13	TEX 24	PHO 25	HOM 34	28th	437
2020				DAY 15	LVS 6	CAL 27	PHO 19	DAR 21	DAR 16	CLT 38	CLT 37	BRI 10	ATL 21	MAR 11	HOM 13	TAL 14	POC 22	POC 20	IND 9	KEN 27	TEX 14	KAN 37	NHA 23	MCH 9	MCH 21	DAY 25	DOV 27	DOV 21	DAY 5	DAR 38	RCH 26	BRI 22	LVS 28	TAL 24	CLT 21	KAN 18	TEX 38	MAR 21	PHO 15	24th	597
2021	Erik Jones			DAY 39	DAY 14	HOM 27	LVS 10	PHO 20	ATL 24	BRI 9	MAR 30	RCH 19	TAL 27	KAN 25	DAR 18	DOV 22	COA 16	CLT 16	SON 11	NSH 19	POC 22	POC 31	ROA 19	ATL 24	NHA 19	GLN 27	IND 7	MCH 18	DAY 11	DAR 32	RCH 21	BRI 8	LVS 26	TAL 9	CLT 17	TEX 12	KAN 29	MAR 8	PHO 22	24th	641

Car No. 44 history

2009–2015: No. 9

Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola (2009–2010)

Kasey Kahne at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2009

Kasey Kahne had been driving for Evernham Motorsports since his rookie season in 2004. Kahne continued to drive the No. 9 car after the merger between Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises. In 2009, Kahne scored his first road course victory at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and won again at Atlanta on Labor Day, earning him a berth in the Chase. However, early misfortune at Loudon put the No. 9 team out of contention for the championship, finishing 10th in points. 2010 would start the No. 9 team off on a high note by winning the second Gatorade Duel in a photo finish. However, the team was plagued by inconsistency and was knocked out of Chase contention before Richmond. With a lack of results, Kahne departed the team before Martinsville and drove Red Bull Racing's No. 83 Toyota. Kahne was replaced by Aric Almirola for the remaining races, who had a best finish of fourth at Homestead.

Marcos Ambrose (2011–2014)

Marcos Ambrose in the No. 9 at Pocono Raceway in 2011

Marcos Ambrose took over driving duties at the beginning of the 2011 season with Stanley Black & Decker moving over from the 19 team. Ambrose had a break out year in the No. 9 Ford and drove to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Watkins Glen International in August. He finished the season with a then-career-high 12 Top 10s, and a 19th-place points finish. Ambrose returned in 2012, and once again won at Watkins Glen, but only had eight Top 10s. However, he did pick up one spot in points to 18th. He failed to win or finish in the Top 5 in 2013, but finished in the Top 10 on six occasions. He dropped to 22nd in points.

Sam Hornish Jr. (2015)

Driver Sam Hornish Jr. (second from left) and the No. 9 team at Sonoma in 2015.

In September 2014, Marcos Ambrose announced he would not return to RPM for 2015, and would depart from NASCAR to return to Australia and the V8 Supercar Series for DJR Team Penske. Later that month, it was announced that primary sponsor Stanley Black & Decker would depart the team for Joe Gibbs Racing. On October 8, 2014, it was announced that Sam Hornish Jr. would drive the No. 9 car starting in 2015. Twisted Tea returned for four races including the Daytona 500. In late-February, it was announced that Medallion Bank, a subsidiary of team owner Andrew Murstein's Medallion Financial Corporation, would appear as a primary sponsor for select races. Medallion partnered with NASCAR Truck Series sponsor Camping World for the third and fourth races of the season (Las Vegas and Phoenix), and other companies including Mercury Marine and Lyon Financial. Hornish struggled during the year, with only three top tens including a best finish of eighth at Talladega in May to finish 26th in points. At the second to last race of the season at Phoenix, Richard Petty announced Hornish would not return to the team following season's end.

Brian Scott (2016)

Brian Scott in the No. 44 at Daytona International Speedway in 2016.

Hornish was replaced by longtime Xfinity Series driver Brian Scott for 2016, with Albertsons and Shore Lodge joining Twisted Tea as primary sponsors. The car was renumbered from 9 to 44, which had been used by Petty Enterprises, and by RPM in 2009.

Scott had a career-best 2nd at Talladega in the fall, and a few weeks later, announced he would retire for family reasons. Petty would later sell the No. 44 equipment to Go FAS Racing.

Car No. 44 results

Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	Owners	Pts
2009	Kasey Kahne	9	Dodge	DAY 29	CAL 12	LVS 11	ATL 7	BRI 5	MAR 19	TEX 19	PHO 13	TAL 36	RCH 29	DAR 23	CLT 7	DOV 6	POC 15	MCH 21	SON 1*	NHA 10	DAY 15	CHI 3	IND 7	POC 5	GLN 17	MCH 11	BRI 28	ATL 1	RCH 12	NHA 38	DOV 8	KAN 6	CAL 34	CLT 3	MAR 32	TAL 2	TEX 33	PHO 15	HOM 17	10th	6128
2010			Ford	DAY 30	CAL 34	LVS 9	ATL 4*	BRI 34	MAR 17	PHO 39	TEX 5	TAL 21	RCH 21	DAR 20	DOV 20	CLT 12	POC 27	MCH 2	SON 4	NHA 36*	DAY 2	CHI 6	IND 13	POC 19	GLN 17	MCH 14	BRI 5	ATL 32	RCH 29	NHA 14	DOV 28	KAN 37	CAL 4	CLT 38						21st	3948
	Aric Almirola																																		MAR 21	TAL 20	TEX 21	PHO 27	HOM 4
2011	Marcos Ambrose			DAY 37	PHO 16	LVS 4	BRI 15	CAL 28	MAR 29	TEX 6	TAL 32	RCH 23	DAR 13	DOV 3	CLT 6	KAN 26	POC 34	MCH 23	SON 5	DAY 17	KEN 20	NHA 9	IND 34	POC 20	GLN 1	MCH 27	BRI 10	ATL 21	RCH 21	CHI 19	NHA 30	DOV 9	KAN 9	CLT 5	TAL 19	MAR 29	TEX 11	PHO 8	HOM 39	19th	936
2012				DAY 13	PHO 32	LVS 13	BRI 36	CAL 21	MAR 15	TEX 20	KAN 16	RCH 22	TAL 14	DAR 9	CLT 32	DOV 10	POC 13	MCH 9	SON 8	KEN 13	DAY 30	NHA 19	IND 20	POC 10	GLN 1	MCH 5	BRI 5	ATL 17	RCH 15	CHI 27	NHA 24	DOV 18	TAL 27	CLT 33	KAN 12	MAR 24	TEX 32	PHO 18	HOM 13	18th	950
2013				DAY 18	PHO 19	LVS 22	BRI 19	CAL 36	MAR 8	TEX 19	KAN 20	RCH 42	TAL 14	DAR 34	CLT 10	DOV 19	POC 17	MCH 23	SON 7	KEN 13	DAY 26	NHA 33	IND 16	POC 12	GLN 31*	MCH 6	BRI 8	ATL 13	RCH 27	CHI 15	NHA 18	DOV 16	KAN 9	CLT 17	TAL 39	MAR 19	TEX 21	PHO 26	HOM 26	22nd	872
2014				DAY 18	PHO 21	LVS 24	BRI 5	CAL 30	MAR 5	TEX 20	DAR 14	RCH 18	TAL 19	KAN 24	CLT 29	DOV 16	POC 24	MCH 25	SON 8	KEN 13	DAY 10	NHA 27	IND 22	POC 14	GLN 2	MCH 12	BRI 34	ATL 42	RCH 27	CHI 25	NHA 24	DOV 26	KAN 20	CLT 25	TAL 8	MAR 23	TEX 27	PHO 10	HOM 27	23rd	870
2015	Sam Hornish Jr.			DAY 12	ATL 21	LVS 24	PHO 40	CAL 43	MAR 32	TEX 26	BRI 19	RCH 35	TAL 6	KAN 16	CLT 24	DOV 22	POC 41	MCH 26	SON 10	DAY 30	KEN 22	NHA 29	IND 16	POC 39	GLN 9	MCH 19	BRI 18	DAR 28	RCH 28	CHI 30	NHA 20	DOV 20	CLT 17	KAN 28	TAL 17	MAR 28	TEX 24	PHO 31	HOM 25	26th	709
2016	Brian Scott	44		DAY 24	ATL 31	LVS 27	PHO 27	CAL 12	MAR 26	TEX 27	BRI 30	RCH 35	TAL 30	KAN 22	DOV 24	CLT 29	POC 39	MCH 36	SON 33	DAY 37	KEN 33	NHA 38	IND 27	POC 24	GLN 25	BRI 18	MCH 28	DAR 39	RCH 35	CHI 31	NHA 31	DOV 21	CLT 22	KAN 28	TAL 2	MAR 34	TEX 27	PHO 30	HOM 15	33rd	481

Car No. 98 history

2009: No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge

A. J. Allmendinger (2009)

The merger between GEM and Petty Enterprises in January 2009 suddenly expanded the team to four rides; the team was renamed to Richard Petty Motorsports and Sadler remained in the 19, while Sorenson moved over to the newly absorbed No. 43 car. Later that month, Allmendinger was signed to drive the newly renumbered No. 44 (used by Kyle Petty, Buckshot Jones, and others at Petty Enterprises in the past) in 2009 with an option for a second season. The only starts guaranteed for the team were the Budweiser Shootout and the first eight-point races of 2009, with the possibility of more races if the team could secure sponsorship. The team unveiled a retro Valvoline/Petty Blue paint scheme for the Daytona 500, and opened the year with a third-place finish in the "Great American Race". Later in the season, Allmendinger finished ninth at Martinsville. They secured sponsorship through the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond in the fall. RPM announced in April that Allmendinger was being signed to a two-year deal, which would keep him in the No. 44 through the end of the 2010 season and sponsorships from Hunt Brothers Pizza, Super 8, Harrah's Entertainment, and Ford allowed him to complete the season. The 44 would also run Fords in several late season races in preparation for a manufacturer switch the next year. Considering the circumstances the year began on, Allmendinger had a solid season, with one Top 5, six Top 10s, and a 24th-place points finish. He would move over to the 43 the next year.

2010: No. 98 Menards Ford

Main article: Yates Racing

Paul Menard (2010)

Paul Menard in the No. 98 during the 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350

For 2010, due to the buyout of Yates Racing by RPM, Paul Menard replaced Reed Sorenson (driver of the 43 in 2009) and drove the No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion. Menard posted similar stats to Allmendinger the prior year (1 top 5, 6 top 10s, 23rd in points), but left the team along with crew chief Slugger Labbe for 2011, taking the Menards sponsorship with him to Richard Childress Racing, forcing the No. 98 to shut down.

Car No. 98 results

Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	Owners	Pts
2009	A. J. Allmendinger	44	Dodge	DAY 3	CAL 29	LVS 33	ATL 17	BRI 16	MAR 9	TEX 34	PHO 35	TAL 35	RCH 21	DAR 17	CLT 32	DOV 29	POC 30	MCH 39	SON 7	NHA 32	DAY 17	CHI 13	IND 20	POC 17	GLN 13	MCH 22	BRI 37	ATL 20	RCH 23	NHA 25	DOV 7	KAN 17	CAL 33	CLT 23	MAR 34	TAL 33				24th	3476
			Ford																																		TEX 10	PHO 13	HOM 10
2010	Paul Menard	98		DAY 13	CAL 18	LVS 17	ATL 5	BRI 18	MAR 14	PHO 29	TEX 35	TAL 25	RCH 27	DAR 30	DOV 21	CLT 8	POC 16	MCH 25	SON 22	NHA 28	DAY 18	CHI 10	IND 14	POC 13	GLN 16	MCH 35	BRI 21	ATL 35	RCH 26	NHA 28	DOV 7	KAN 8	CAL 22	CLT 24	MAR 13	TAL 13	TEX 10	PHO 29	HOM 19	23rd	3776

Xfinity Series

Car No. 09 history

Braun Racing alliance (2009)

In 2009, the No. 9 team partnered with Braun Racing and their No. 10 Toyota Camry for several races with Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler. Fritos with the sponsor at Atlanta with Kahne as driver. Bumper to Bumper sponsored Sadler at New Hampshire. McDonald's was the sponsor at Daytona in July and at Bristol in August.

Richard Petty Motorsports (2011–2014)

The team was brought back in 2011, RPM provided a car for Marcos Ambrose in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Montreal. The No. 9 Ford Mustang was prepared by Roush Fenway Racing. Owen Kelly practiced and qualified the car while Ambrose was in Michigan for the Sprint Cup race. The car qualified 9th. Even with the team starting in the back with the driver change, the team won the race that stopped a string of bad luck for Ambrose at the track.

In 2013, the No. 9 Ford Mustang was driven by Marcos Ambrose in the Nationwide Children's Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio to a seventh-place finish. The 9 was also run at Homestead for the season finale with Corey Lajoie behind the wheel. He was involved in a crash and finished 33rd.

In 2014, Ambrose returned to the series in the No. 09 Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen International, winning the race.

Car No. 09 results

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	Owners	Pts
2011	Marcos Ambrose	9	Ford	DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	TEX	TAL	NSH	RCH	DAR	DOV	IOW	CLT	CHI	MCH	ROA	DAY	KEN	NHA	NSH	IRP	IOW	GLN	CGV 1	BRI	ATL	RCH	CHI	DOV	KAN	CLT	TEX	PHO	HOM	58th	47
2013			Ford	DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	TEX	RCH	TAL	DAR	CLT	DOV	IOW	MCH	ROA	KEN	DAY	NHA	CHI	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH 7	BRI	ATL	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	KAN	CLT	TEX	PHO			52nd	47
	Corey LaJoie																																			HOM 34
2014	Marcos Ambrose	09		DAY	PHO	LVS	BRI	CAL	TEX	DAR	RCH	TAL	IOW	CLT	DOV	MCH	ROA	KEN	DAY	NHA	CHI	IND	IOW	GLN 1	MOH	BRI	ATL	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	KAN	CLT	TEX	PHO	HOM		51st	48

Car No. 43 history

The No. 43 driven by Michael Annett at Road America in 2013

Michael Annett (2012–2013)

In 2012, the No. 9 was renumbered to the No. 43 running Michael Annett, who brings his sponsorship from Pilot Flying J, though STP served as sponsor for the STP 300 at Chicagoland.

Dakoda Armstrong (2014–2015)

Dakoda Armstrong at Road America in 2014.

With Annett moving up to the Cup Series for Tommy Baldwin Racing, RPM hired former Turn One Racing Truck driver Dakoda Armstrong to take over the No. 43, bringing sponsorship from WinField. Armstrong drove for two seasons, then left after 2015 for JGL Racing.

Jeb Burton (2016)

In 2016, former BK Racing driver Jeb Burton joined the team, driving the No. 43. Despite being 11th in points after Charlotte in June, the team was suspended after sponsor J. Streicher & Co. defaulted on their agreement with RPM.

Car No. 43 results

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year	Driver	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	Owners	Pts
2012	Michael Annett	43	Ford	DAY 27	PHO 10	LVS 13	BRI 11	CAL 11	TEX 9	RCH 8	TAL 23	DAR 14	IOW 14	CLT 14	DOV 11	MCH 12	ROA 26	KEN 4	DAY 3	NHA 11	CHI 5	IND 6	IOW 4	GLN 11	CGV 28	BRI 8	ATL 10	RCH 5	CHI 7	KEN 7	DOV 3	CLT 10	KAN 8	TEX 17	PHO 7	HOM 12	5th	1082
2013				DAY 26									CLT 17	DOV 13	IOW 30	MCH 19	ROA 35	KEN 18	DAY 15	NHA 5	CHI 16	IND 9	IOW 12	GLN 22	MOH 22	BRI 11	ATL 14	RCH 13	CHI 18	KEN 10	DOV 14	KAN 12	CLT 10	TEX 14	PHO 14	HOM 17	15th	924
	Aric Almirola				PHO 9
	Reed Sorenson					LVS 16	BRI 18	CAL 17	TEX 15	RCH 10	TAL 22	DAR 18
2014	Dakoda Armstrong			DAY 23	PHO 18	LVS 23	BRI 24	CAL 20	TEX 22	DAR 18	RCH 17	TAL 18	IOW 21	CLT 19	DOV 16	MCH 19	ROA 25	KEN 20	DAY 19	NHA 30	CHI 20	IND 17	IOW 21	GLN 25	MOH 10	BRI 28	ATL 33	RCH 7	CHI 22	KEN 19	DOV 17	KAN 25	CLT 19	TEX 10	PHO 21	HOM 20	19th	788
2015				DAY 11	ATL 20	LVS 30	PHO 18	CAL 36	TEX 16	BRI 23	RCH 27	TAL 22	IOW 21	CLT 16	DOV 14	MCH 16	CHI 28	DAY 6	KEN 17	NHA 16	IND 19	IOW 16	GLN 23	MOH 23	BRI 24	ROA 34	DAR 18	RCH 21	CHI 15	KEN 14	DOV 20	CLT 16	KAN 20	TEX 18	PHO 18	HOM 15	19th	803
2016	Jeb Burton			DAY 25	ATL 10	LVS 17	PHO 17	CAL 16	TEX 35	BRI 12	RCH 19	TAL 17	DOV 13	CLT 11	POC	MCH	IOW	DAY	KEN	NHA	IND	IOW	GLN	MOH	BRI	ROA	DAR	RCH	CHI	KEN	DOV	CLT	KAN	TEX	PHO	HOM	37th	260

ARCA

Empire Racing (2016)

In 2016, Richard Petty Motorsports formed an alliance with Empire Racing, owned by John Corr. Empire Racing would field the No. 43 Petty's Garage entry in the Camping World Truck Series part-time in the series, with a number of young drivers sharing the truck. Austin Hill drove at Daytona. Korbin Forrister drove at Eldora, but failed to qualify.

Thad Moffitt (2017–2019)

The alliance with Empire Racing has moved to ARCA from the 2017 season having been centered around Richard Petty's grandson, Thad Moffitt. Moffitt has run part-time in the No. 46, and Sean Corr drove the No. 43 in a few races.

External links

• Richard Petty Motorsports (Official website)
• Richard Petty Motorsports owner statistics at Racing-Reference
• Ray Evernham owner statistics at Racing-Reference
• Gillett Evernham Motorsports owner statistics at Racing-Reference