NASCAR: Driver number change announced for 2022 season
By Asher Fair
Ty Dillon was set to pilot the #94 Chevrolet for GMS Racing in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, but that will not be the case.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing will operate under one name, Petty GMS Motorsports, beginning in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.
This news followed last week’s announcement that GMS Racing owner Maury Gallagher had paid $19.1 million for majority interest in Richard Petty’s team.
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Both of Richard Petty Motorsports’ charters, the one that had been used to run their #43 Chevrolet and the one that they had allowed Rick Ware Racing to use to run their #51 car (officially a Petty Ware Racing entry), were a part of this deal.
What will not be changing are the two drivers who had been set to compete for Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing.
Erik Jones, who signed a contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports to return for a second season behind the wheel of the #43 Chevrolet next year, is indeed set to pilot the #43 Chevrolet for Petty GMS Motorsports in 2022. Former JR Motorsports crew chief Dave Elenz is set to serve as his crew chief.
Ty Dillon, who was announced as GMS Racing’s driver for the 2022 season toward the end of the 2021 season, is indeed set to pilot the second Petty GMS Motorsports entry next year. Jerame Donley is set to serve as his crew chief.
However, there is one small change that was announced on the driver front on Tuesday, and that has to do with Dillon’s car number.
Dillon had been slated to pilot the #94 Chevrolet in the 2022 season. Now he is set to pilot the #42 Chevrolet.
The number 42 has deep ties to the Petty family and became available after Chip Ganassi Racing was acquired by Trackhouse Racing Team. Trackhouse Racing Team maintained the number 1, but not the number 42, to pair with their own number 99.
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The Daytona 500 is scheduled to get the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season underway on Sunday, February 20. The 64th annual Great American Race is set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.