Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Darrell Wallace Jr. to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018

By Asher Fair

LONG POND, PA - JUNE 11: Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2017 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. This marks Wallace's Monster Energy NACSAR Sprint Cup Series debut. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LONG POND, PA - JUNE 11: Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2017 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. This marks Wallace's Monster Energy NACSAR Sprint Cup Series debut. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Darrell Wallace Jr. is set to drive for Richard Petty Motorsports in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season after driving in four races for the team this year.

After the departures of Aric Almirola and Smithfield Foods from Richard Petty Motorsports were announced last month, the team has been searching for a new driver to take over the full-time driving duties of the #43 Ford in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series and a primary sponsor to go with him.

The team had been targeting Darrell Wallace Jr., 24, who drove in four races for the team this season as Aric Almirola’s replacement when Almirola injured his back in a three-car wreck at Kansas Speedway in May.

Now it’s official: Wallace Jr. will become the full-time driver of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford in the 2018 Cup Series season. The sponsors for the car, however, will be announced at a future date.

More from NASCAR

As far as Aric Almirola’s future in the Cup Series goes, he is still the favorite to take over the driving duties of the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford currently driven by Danica Patrick, as Smithfield Foods, his current sponsor with Richard Petty Motorsports, is set to move to Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2018 season.

Wallace Jr. improved in each of his four Cup Series starts for Richard Petty Motorsports this season as Almirola’s replacement. In his Cup Series debut at Pocono, he finished in 26th place before finishing in 19th at Michigan, 15th at Daytona and 11th at Kentucky.

Wallace Jr. began the season as a full-time driver for Roush Fenway Racing in the Xfinity Series. However, after the Pocono race, the team released him despite the fact that he had racked up six top 6 finishes in the first 12 races of the seasons.

Since he was released by the Roush Fenway Racing Xfinity Series team, Wallace Jr. drove in and won one race in the Truck Series for MDM Motorsports at Michigan, and he drove in one race in the Xfinity Series for Biagi-DenBeste Racing at Chicagoland and finished in 10th place.

Next: 10 NASCAR drivers who deserve better rides

By signing with Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, Darrell Wallace Jr. is on track to be the first full-time African-American in the Cup Series since Wendell Scott drove in the series back in 1971.

Home/NASCAR