Richard Petty Motorsports
For many NASCAR fans, Richard Petty Motorsports might not be a household name. However, the success of the team is certainly worth mentioning. The racing team has earned over $5 million in prize money, and the organization has a revenue of $20 million. What is their history? And how do they measure up to other teams? Find out by reading on! Below are some of the facts about Richard Petty Motorsports.
Team History
The Richard Petty Motorsports team is owned by Richard Lee Petty, nicknamed “The King.” In 2008, Petty Motorsports was renamed and reorganized. The Richard Petty Motorsports team was established in 2009 by the combination of Gillett Evernham Motorsports with Petty Enterprises. The team has since featured drivers such as Kyle Petty, Aric Almirola, Kase Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, and Sam Hornish Jr.
The team has won several championships. It is owned by Kyle Petty, who is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and holds the Cup Series record for wins with 200. The team won the first four races of the 1957 season with Richard Petty, the son of Lee Petty and Maurice Petty. The team also ran additional teams in 1958 and 1969 and will compete in the 2022-NASCAR Cup Series season. During his career, Petty became known as the King of the Mountain after he won the Daytona 500 in 1959. In 1964, he was the top driver in the Daytona 500, leading the race for all but 16 laps. He would win five championships that year.
NASCAR Cup Series
After the merger of two racing teams, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) officially became Richard Petty Racing in 2009. The team has enjoyed success in the Cup Series with big-name drivers like AJ Allmendinger, Kasey Kahne, and Sam Hornish Jr. In 2014, the team had its last Cup Series victory with Aric Almirola driving a Ford Fusion. In the past, RPM had used Dodges, but the automaker pulled out of the competition in 2007. The team’s only guaranteed starts for the 2009 season were the Budweiser Shootout and the first eight points races.
The new owner of Richard Petty Motorsports is the owner of GMS Racing, Maury Gallagher, who bought the majority stake in the operation for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. Petty is expected to serve as chairman of the new team, and will be the face of the team on the track. The team is also expected to field two chartered Cup entries next sea son, including one for Erik Jones. The move will further boost the team’s chances of a successful future.