Bubba Wallace will not return to Richard Petty Motorsports as the driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The team confirmed the news Thursday via a statment.
“Earlier this morning, Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr., informed Richard Petty Motorsports he will not be returning for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season. We will complete the season with Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.
“We look forward to the next chapter in the making for the iconic No. 43 team. We will announce our new driver in the near future.”
Wallace followed up with his own statement shortly after.
“This was not an easy decision as I have nothing but the utmost respect for Richard Petty and his family, but I believe it’s time for someone else to take over the reins of the No. 43. Thank you to the King and everyone at Richard Petty Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to start my Cup Series career. I’ve grown so much as a driver and as a person since joining them. We’ve got nine more races together, and I hope we can finish the 2020 season on a high note.”
Wallace is the only Black driver competing full-time in NASCAR’s premier series and is in his third season at Richard Petty Motorsports. He is widely known for his social activism in the wake of protests across the country this year and has worked to shift NASCAR through social changes, including the banning of the Confederate flag at series events and tracks.
Wallace has an ownership stake in Richard Petty Motorsports but also said early last month that he was entertaining offers from teams for next season including Chip Ganassi Racing. Due to his widespread media attention for his social activism, Wallace has signed several high-profile sponsors for personal services contracts.
The 26-year-old has 103 career Cup starts and nine career top 10s. His best finish this season is fifth at the Daytona oval in August, his best career finish came in the 2018 Daytona 500 when he finished second.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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