NASCAR keeps the Petty legacy alive with driver announcement
By Randy Smith
Richard Petty is widely regarded as the best NASCAR driver of all-time. The Petty legacy has lasted throughout generations, and with a recent driver announcement, it lives on.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty is regarded as the “King” for inarguable reasons. His 200 wins are the most in Cup Series history, and his seven championships are tied for the most. He took the sport that is stock car racing to a whole new level and gave it of its most famous legends.
Richard’s Petty father, Lee, raced in NASCAR as well, and the Petty name has lived on. The most recent driver in the Petty family to compete in a NASCAR race was Richard’s son, Kyle. Kyle Petty’s son, Adam, was sent to be the next in line for the Petty legacy, but he was tragically killed in an accident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000.
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In the Cup Series, it was announced over the offseason that Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing would merge to form Petty GMS Motorsports, fielding the #42 Chevrolet along with the #43 Chevrolet to pay homage to both Richard and Lee Petty.
And now the Petty family tree has a chance to live on in NASCAR with a recent driver announcement as well.
Richard Petty’s grandson, Thad Moffitt, is set to make his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series in Friday night’s NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Moffitt, who spent the 2021 season racing in the ARCA Menards Series driving the #46 Ford for David Gilliland Racing, is set to drive the #43 Chevrolet, a truck built by GMS Racing and Reaume Brothers Racing. STP will sponsor the truck, and it will feature a paint scheme identical to the King’s.
NEWS: We are excited to team up with @RBR_Teams and @OriginalSTP as @ThadMoffitt makes his @NASCAR_Trucks Series debut at @DAYTONA!
— GMS Racing (@GMSRacingLLC) February 10, 2022
Thad will run a paint scheme and fire suit that pays homage to Richard Petty’s 1992 STP ride!
💻: https://t.co/UEKuy6G7pg#WeAreGMS | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ARnS6mVAcW
In the Petty family, it is common to run a number previously used by a family member. Lee Petty started in the #42 car, and each future generation followed suit.
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With a truck that fields the same number and paint scheme as his grandfather, Moffitt will look to keep the Petty legacy alive when the NextEra Energy 250 kicks off the 2022 Truck Series season on Friday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). If you haven’t started your free trial of FuboTV, now would be a great time to do so!