Bubba Wallace is getting his shot at the NASCAR Cup Series and will drive for The King.
Sometimes things just work out the way that feels right during NASCAR Silly Season. That’s certainly true for Bubba Wallace, who will get an opportunity to compete at the top level of the sport even though it comes with plenty of questions still to be answered.
Richard Petty Motorsports announced Wednesday that Wallace will be the new driver of its famous No. 43 for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Outgoing driver Aric Almirola, whose next ride is still unknown at this point, will finish out this season in the car.
Wallace has been without a full-time ride since his Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY Series team shut down in the middle of the season. That move was said to be a business decision as teammate Ryan Reed had a win under his belt and was locked into the series playoffs, while Wallace’s car had sponsorship questions.
Indeed, Wallace hasn’t won in his XFINITY Series career, but he has shown a knack for finding Victory Lane in the Camping World Truck Series, where he has six victories in just 44 career starts. One of those wins came in his lone Truck Series appearance in 2017 at Michigan.
He also filled in admirably in four races for Richard Petty Motorsports while Almirola was out with an injury. Wallace improved with each start, finishing with an 11th-place finish at Kentucky.
But aside from the driver change, the RPM No. 43 will look much different next year. The driver announcement noted that both sponsors and manufacturer for the car would be revealed at a later date, and Petty himself said that there were “a couple, three options” in terms of an alliance for the one-car team. It’s quite possible it won’t be a Ford, and it definitely won’t fly the colors of longtime RPM sponsor Smithfield, who is leaving to set up shop with Stewart-Haas Racing.
Next: Dale Earnhardt Jr., wife Amy expecting baby girl
Those not insignificant details will get worked out. For now, the important thing is that the King needed a driver and Wallace needed a ride, and teaming up simply makes sense. Much will be made of Wallace’s status as the first full-time African-American Cup Series driver in more than 45 years, but Bubba has already said the best way to carry on that legacy is to drive hard and represent the Petty brand as best he can.
At least now, he’ll get that chance.