Bubba Wallace and Richard Petty Motorsports are sticking together through 2019 and beyond.
As expected, Richard Petty Motorsports will have the same driver next season, and that’s certainly welcome news for Bubba Wallace as he is that driver.
The team announced Saturday that it had re-signed Wallace to remain the driver of its No. 43 Chevrolet, assuring that he will get to stay in the same ride after his rookie Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Terms were not disclosed, as is the norm for NASCAR contracts, but RPM described the new deal as “a multi-year agreement.”
Some stability should be good for both sides. Richard Petty Motorsports tapped Wallace to replace Aric Almirola for 2018 after he departed for Stewart-Haas Racing following six seasons. During the last of those, Almirola suffered a serious injury on the track and missed multiple races, and Wallace was one of the fill-in drivers, making several starts in the 43.
More from NASCAR
- NASCAR rain delay today, July 2 update: Chicago Street Race
- Where is the NASCAR course in Chicago? A look at how the Grant Park 220 will work
- Grant Park 220 Ticket prices: How much does it cost to attend?
- LAST CHANCE: FanDuel’s Crazy $2,500 Bonus NASCAR Promo Expires Sunday
- Trevor, start your engine: Jaguars’ temporary stadium could be NASCAR mecca
He was available because despite winning races at the Truck Series level and racing competitively in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Wallace suddenly sound himself without a ride midway through 2017 when his Roush Fenway Racing XFINITY team suddenly closed up shop. However, his talent and personality always figured to get him to the Cup Series level sooner rather than later, and it appears he’s found just the right landing spot with RPM.
Wallace thrilled fans by finishing second at the Daytona 500 in February, but his performance since then has been much more typical of a rookie still feeling his way through the Cup Series grind for the first time, and he currently sits 24th in points, three places behind his rival for Rookie of the Year honors, William Byron.
“Our highs have been well documented and so have our lows,” Wallace said in an RPM press release. “It’s all a part of growing together as a team with a new alliance, a new shop, a new manufacturer, a new car and being a rookie driver. It’s a wild ride and I’m thankful to the Petty family for allowing me to be on it. Richard is competitive, and I think about winning in the ’43’ all the time. We both want the same thing and we’re building that. Today, allows us to get this confirmed and continue to focus on the future.”
Petty himself mentioned earlier this week that he understands the learning curve when a driver is new to a team and series but would like to see it speed up. On Saturday, The King reaffirmed his confidence in Wallace and noted the very important fact that potential sponsors can now rest assured the Richard Petty Motorsports plan is in place for the next few years, and it figures to be a good one for all involved.