When Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing confirmed a long-rumored merger during Champion’s Week, questions started flooding the NASCAR social media landscape with fans eager to find out what the sale meant and how both teams would change heading into 2022.
Fans got their first glimpse of the future on Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, when GMS and RPM shared what will be the new name of the operation following the sale – Petty GMS Motorsports.
Petty GMS Motorsports: coming to a @NASCAR Cup Series race near you in '22 ? #PettyGMS | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/xmw489VxPv
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) December 7, 2021
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to work with Richard (Petty), arguably the greatest driver in NASCAR history, and form Petty GMS Motorsports,” said Maury Gallagher, owner of GMS Racing. “Petty GMS will have a sole focus of winning. Both teams have a track record of winning and we have a strong desire to continue this legacy in a new chapter. Ty (Dillon) and Erik (Jones) have proven themselves through the years and we are looking forward to the success they will have as teammates.”
The sale, which comes with two charters, will bring Erik Jones and Ty Dillon together as teammates. Jones will remain in the No. 43 Camaro for the second straight season. The previously revealed No. 94 for GMS Racing is no more, as Dillon will pilot the No. 42 for the team. The number has a storied history with the Petty family, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty kicking off the Petty dynasty in the sport in that very same number.
“As for the car number for the second car, I don’t know that I can express how special it is to me personally to have the No. 42 number racing alongside the No. 43 again,” said Richard Petty, Chairman of Petty GMS Motorsports. “I grew up watching my dad race that car, I worked on cars with that number way before I started racing. Dad had a lot of success winning races and championships with that number. Kyle drove cars and won races with the No. 42 as well. It’s really special to me that Petty GMS will be racing that car number.”
The number change marks the first time since 1996 that the No. 42 returns involving a Petty, with Kyle Petty last driving the car in 1996. Additionally, it’s the first time since 2016 that a two-car operation will hit the Cup Series circuit under the Petty name.
Mike Beam will serve as the President of Petty GMS, who will oversee day-to-day operations for the organization. Brian Moffitt will take over the role of Executive Vice President of Sales.
“The legacy of GMS Racing has been focused on winning and achieving high success, no matter the series,” added Beam. “Our 25-acre, three-building complex in Statesville has roughly 150,000 square feet and is equal to many current Cup shops in size and sophistication. We are ahead of most of the new Cup entrants this year because of our infrastructure. This highly functioning race shop will allow us to hit the ground running. This facility combined with our race-winning personnel gives me confidence that we can make an impact as soon as this season. I have competed in the Cup Series before and understand how things should work.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
