Petty Enterprises

Lee Petty Engineering
Petty Enterprises
PettyEnterpisesLogo19902008
Owner(s)Lee Petty
Richard Petty
Kyle Petty
Boston Ventures
BaseLevel Cross, North Carolina
SeriesNASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Race driversLee Petty
Richard Petty
Maurice Petty
Kyle Petty
Adam Petty
Bob Welborn
Ralph Earnhardt
Jim Paschal
G.C. Spencer
Paul Lewis
Marvin Panch
Tiny Lund
Dan Gurney
Buddy Baker
Pete Hamilton
Dick Brooks
Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Jimmy Hensley
John Andretti
Steve Grissom
Buckshot Jones
Jerry Nadeau
Greg Biffle
Bobby Labonte
Terry Labonte
Chad McCumbee
Carlos Contreras
Bobby Hamilton
Rick Wilson
Jeff Green
Shane Hmiel
Scott Maxwell
Ted Musgrave
Christian Fittipaldi
Kenny Wallace
Boris Said
SponsorsSTP, General Mills, Hot Wheels, Sprint, Georgia Pacific, Wells Fargo, Marathon, Coca-Cola, Tire Kingdom, Schwans
ManufacturerFord, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet
Opened1949
Closed2008
Career
Drivers' Championships10 (1954, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979)
Race victories279
Sprint Cup: 268
Truck Series: 2
Convertible Division: 3
Winston West: 3
ARCA Racing Series: 3

Petty Enterprises (formerly Lee Petty Engineering) was a NASCAR racing team based in Level Cross, North Carolina, USA. It was founded by Lee Petty with his two sons Richard Petty and Maurice Petty. The team was later owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the No. 43 and No. 45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from 1949 until 2008. The team closed shop in January 2009 and merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports after sponsorship could not be found for any of the cars in the Petty stable; the merged team took the name Richard Petty Motorsports, adopting a logo similar to that of Petty Enterprises' logo. In 2021, Richard Petty Motorsports became Petty GMS Motorsports, and in 2023 the team rebranded as Legacy Motor Club.

Petty Enterprises formerly held the title of winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series for 61 years, beginning in 1960 with a win by Lee Petty. At the time of the team's final victory, it totaled 268 wins in the series. In 2021, Hendrick Motorsports eclipsed the record, winning its 269th race in the Coca-Cola 600 with Kyle Larson.[1]

Old race shop in Level Cross[edit]

The facilities in Randleman that was vacated by the race team is still owned by the Petty family and is now (since 2010) a small business called The Petty Garage and specializes in custom cars, vintage restorations, and other specialty automotive work. The last few years has seen it host Mopar (Chrysler Co. vehicles) appreciation meets.

Cup Series[edit]

Car No. 42 history[edit]

Lee Petty's 1956 Dodge Coronet

Lee Petty (1949-1961)[edit]

Founded as Lee Petty Engineering, Lee Petty brought Petty Enterprises their first starts, the first of these at Occoneechee Speedway, where Petty finished ninth. The team's first win came that year in Lee's fifth start at Heidelberg Raceway, with Petty and the team finishing 2nd in points that season. Petty won one race in each of the years 1950 and 1951, before collecting three victories in 1952. Lee grabbed five wins in 1953 and finished second in points before winning the championship in 1954. He followed that with six wins the next season and two more the following year, making him one of the most dominating drivers in the series at that time. In 1957, Petty won four races as the team began running additional teams. Petty would accumulate a total of 54 career wins, one of them being the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, and three national championships. But during the 100 Mile Qualifying Races for the 1961 Daytona 500, Petty was involved in a horrific crash with Johnny Beauchamp, this would hospitalize both drivers, and Petty would only make a handful of starts between 1962 and 1965.

Lee's sons, Richard and Maurice Petty, would also make a few starts in their father's cars in the early part of their careers. Several other drivers raced a handful of times in the No. 42, including Marvin Panch, Paul Lewis, Tiny Lund, G.C. Spencer, and Dan Gurney.

Kyle Petty (1979-1984)[edit]

The year of 1979 saw Richard's son, Kyle Petty, start his career winning the very first race he entered - the Arca 200 at Daytona International Speedway, Petty drove five cup races for PE in 1979.

Kyle Petty's 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix

In 1983, the No. 42 became the #7 due to Kyle Petty's 7-Eleven-sponsorship. Kyle earned eight Top 5's, but no wins during that stretch. Petty left to drive for the Wood Brothers in 1985, taking the sponsor with him and causing the team to shut down.

Car No. 42 Results[edit]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Owners Pts
1979 Kyle Petty 42 Dodge RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
9
MCH
13
BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT
18
NWS CAR ATL
32
37th 559
Chevy ONT
14
1980 Dodge RSD DAY
DNQ
RCH 28th 1690
Chevy CAR
31
ATL
14
BRI DAR NWS
8
MAR
15
TAL NSV DOV
21
CLT
7
TWS RSD MCH
7
DAY NSV POC
7
TAL
9
MCH
12
BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT
9
CAR
35
ATL ONT
35
Olds MAR
27
1981 Richard Petty Chevy RSD
5
12th 3335
Kyle Petty Buick DAY
32
RCH
24
CAR
8
ATL
41
BRI
11
NWS
22
DAR
25
MAR
15
TAL
30
NSV
7
DOV
20
CLT
5
TWS
29
RSD
6
MCH
21
DAY
6
NSV
6
POC
8
TAL
7
MCH
19
BRI
28
DAR
24
RCH
22
DOV
7
MAR
19
NWS
18
CLT
20
CAR
37
ATL
8
RSD
37
1982 Pontiac DAY
23
RCH
20
BRI
11
ATL
26
CAR
27
DAR
18
NWS
14
MAR
27
TAL
4
NSV
27
DOV
29
CLT
17
POC
11
RSD
12
MCH
6
DAY NSV
23
POC TAL MCH BRI
30
DAR RCH
14
DOV
2
NWS
10
CLT MAR
21
CAR
29
ATL
31
RSD 15th 3024
1983 7 DAY
33
RCH
14
CAR
15
ATL
35
DAR
31
NWS
30
MAR
11
TAL
30
NSV
17
DOV
11
BRI
11
CLT
8
RSD
6
POC
13
MCH
16
DAY
30
NSV
20
POC
11
TAL
11
MCH
14
BRI
11
DAR
35
RCH
12
DOV
26
MAR
12
NWS
16
CLT
18
CAR
24
ATL
20
RSD
13
13th 3261
1984 Ford DAY
40
RCH
17
CAR
31
ATL
38
BRI
26
NWS
5
DAR
24
MAR
8
TAL
15
NSV
11
DOV
13
CLT
37
RSD
8
POC
12
MCH
12
DAY
30
NSV
15
POC
8
TAL
22
MCH
17
BRI
24
DAR
32
RCH
6
DOV
14
MAR
10
CLT
17
NWS
20
CAR
24
ATL
22
RSD
28
16th 3159

Car No. 43 history[edit]

Bobby Labonte's 2007 Dodge Charger

Pre-Richard Petty years (1954-1958)[edit]

Believed to be one of the most recognizable numbers in motorsports, the No. 43 team debuted in 1954, when Lee Petty expanded to a two car team and put Bob Welborn in the driver's seat. Welborn competed in two races that season; West Palm Beach and Savannah, finishing 11th and 20th, respectively. The #43 would not return with Petty Enterprises until 1957, this time with Bill Lutz behind the wheel. Lutz drove his Oldsmobile to a 6th-place finish at Daytona Beach. The 43 car would once again take a break from competition until 1959, when Lee placed his son Richard in the car.

Richard Petty (1959-1992)[edit]

Richard made ten starts in 1959, accumulating five top tens, and four top fives making him the 1959 Rookie of the Year. Petty returned in 1960, making forty starts, with three wins, sixteen top fives, and thirty top tens. He finished second in NASCAR Grand National Series points, scoring his first career win at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway. Petty scored ten wins throughout 1961 and 1962, finishing eighth and second in championship standings. Although he had tremendous success early in his career, his true breakout year was 1963. In '63, Petty scored fourteen wins, thirty top fives, thirty-nine top tens, and eight poles. However, he still fell short of the championship, finishing second to Joe Weatherly.

1964 saw Richard win his first Grand National title, and first Daytona 500. Joining in the Chrysler boycott of NASCAR due to the ban of the Hemi engine, Petty spent most of 1965 drag racing, and only made fourteen out of fifty-five races on the circuit. In 1966, Petty returned to NASCAR. Winning yet another Daytona 500, and finishing third in points. 1967 was a monumental year for Richard. He compiled twenty-seven wins out of forty-eight starts, including a record ten wins in a row. One of these victories was the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. This would be his only win in the Southern 500. His dominance in this season dubbed him the nickname of, "King Richard." He had previously been known as the "Randleman Rocket." He also scored his second Grand National Series championship during that season. Petty continued this success in 1968, although he finished third in final points ranking. In 1969, Petty switched brands to Ford, as Richard believed his Plymouth was not as competitive on superspeedways. He requested to run a Dodge Daytona, but Chrysler executives insisted he stay with Plymouth. He would take home ten race wins, and finish second in points. In 1970 Plymouth developed their own version of the Dodge Daytona, the Plymouth Superbird. It had the features Richard wanted, and he switched back to Plymouth for the 1970 season. 1971 was a year of "threes" for Petty, he won his third Daytona 500 and third championship, edging over Virginia driver, James Hylton. Richard would win twenty-one races that year, making him the first stock car racing driver in history to win over $1,000,000. At the end of the 1971 season, Chrysler announced they would no longer factory-back the Pettys.

In 1972, STP began a long, very successful sponsorship arrangement with the team. However, it put an end to the years of famous all "Petty Blue" cars. Initially, STP insisted the car be all orangish-red. But after a lengthy negotiation session, they decided on a car that would be a combination of the "Petty Blue" and the "STP Red." This paint scheme would become the one of all STP sponsored race car, most notably Gordon Johncock's 1982 Indianapolis 500 winning automobile. Thanks to his eight victories, twenty-five top fives, and twenty-eight top tens, Petty won his fourth series title, making him the inaugural Winston Cup champion. In 1973, Petty completed his first full-time season in a Dodge Charger (he had tested them in 1972.) 1973 also saw Petty's fourth Daytona 500 victory, outlasting Buddy Baker's K&K Insurance Racing Dodge. A year later, all NASCAR races were shortened due to the energy crisis. Petty would win the "Daytona 450," along with nine other races, winning his fifth championship.

1975 was another historic year for Petty, as he won the World 600 in Charlotte for the first time in his career, en route to twelve more victories and his sixth series title. The thirteen wins is a modern era (1972–Present) record, tied by Jeff Gordon in 1998. In 1976, Petty was involved in one of the most famous finishes in NASCAR history. He and David Pearson were battling for the win on the last lap of the Daytona 500. When Petty tried to pass Pearson coming out of turn four, his right bumper and Pearson's left front bumper touched. Pearson and Petty both spun and hit the wall. Petty's car came to rest just yards before the start/finish line, but his engine had stalled. Pearson had struck the wall and clipped another car, but his engine was running. Although Team Petty tried to push-start Richard, Pearson would end up winning the race. 1978 was another big year for Petty, not because of his success, but because of his lack of success. This very well could've been the only year in Petty's prime where he did not visit the Winner's Circle. The team could not get their Dodge Magnum to handle the way they wanted, even though they spent countless hours trying to improve the car's performance.

Unhappy with his 1978 results, Petty decided to part ways with Chrysler, and began racing General Motors vehicles. This change proved very successful as Petty scored six top ten finishes in the last ten races of the season. He would go on to have even better results in 1979. He kicked off the season with winning the Daytona 500, the sixth of his career, and the first live flag-to-flag broadcast of a NASCAR race. This race became infamous for a fistfight between competitors Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough after the race. Allison and Yarborough were running first and second on the last lap when they crashed, allowing Petty to sneak by. The race is also regarded as being the turning point of modern-day NASCAR. The East Coast was snowed in by a blizzard, giving CBS a captive audience. He ran most of the remaining races that season in a Chevrolet, winning four additional times, and his seventh and final NASCAR championship, beating Darrell Waltrip by eleven points. That would be the record for closest championship battle until 1992.

1980 was not a very good year for Petty, he only won twice. This is widely considered to be the first season of Richard's downfall. 1981 was slightly more promising. Prior to the 1981 season, NASCAR dictated that all teams had to downsize their cars to a 110" wheel-base. Even though Petty had been successful with General Motors cars, he wanted to return to his Mopar roots. So, in 1981 Petty revealed a brand new 1981 Dodge Mirada and took it to Daytona in January for testing. Petty's fans were also mostly Dodge fans, so when word got out about the Mirada, over 15,000 people attended just to watch Petty test. Unfortunately for Richard, the Dodge's top speed averaged at 186 miles per hour, about 8 miles per hour slower than his fellow GM and Ford competitors. So, Petty abandoned the Dodge Mirada, and purchased a Buick Regal for the Daytona 500. Petty would end up winning the 500 for the seventh and last time thanks to a strategic late-race pit stop. While Petty would win three races in 1981, Petty was still disappointed in his results and concluded that the Regals were poor in reliability and ill-handling. For the 1982 season, he moved to the Pontiac Grand Prix. At first, the Grand Prix behaved much like the 1978 Dodge Magnum, but towards the end of the year things began to improve. Richard would end the season with three victories, nine top fives, and twenty-one top tens.

Richard would leave Petty Enterprises after the 1983 season, moving to Curb Racing in hopes his statistics would improve. In 1986 Richard returned to his family's team. The following years would come with little success for struggling Petty, scoring a combined zero wins, fifteen top fives, and thirty-two top tens.

On October 1, 1991, Petty announced he would retire from racing after the 1992 season. Petty's final top ten finish came in the 1991 Budweiser at the Glen, which is the same race that claimed the life of veteran driver JD McDuffie. Petty's final season was dubbed the "Fan Appreciation Tour." This tour took him around the country, participating in special events, ceremonies, and fan meeting sessions. Petty would lead the field on the pace lap at every race as a salute to the fans.

Petty led the first five laps of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, but dropped out on lap 84. Petty's final race came at the season-ending Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Petty was involved in an accident on lap 94, but the team managed to restore the car and send him back out with two laps to go and Richard Petty was running at the finish in 35th position before taking one last lap after the race in a fender-less race car, with tear-filled eyes and a hand out the window, waving goodbye to his many fans.[2][3]

Legacy Motor Club and Daytona International Speedway unveiled the first of 28 unique statues featuring Petty’s famed hat.[4]

Wally Dallenbach Jr. / John Andretti (1994)[edit]

In 1994, the No. 43 car made a return with Wally Dallenbach Jr. as the driver. Dallenbach tallied three top 10's and one top 5, but struggled to qualify races. He was replaced mid-season by John Andretti.

Bobby Hamilton (1995-1997)[edit]

For 1995, 1991 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Bobby Hamilton was hired to drive. Hamilton would score four top fives, and scored his first win with the team the following year at Phoenix, this would be Petty Enterprises first win since 1983. In 1997 Hamilton won at Rockingham, but left the team at the end of the season to drive for Morgan-McClure Racing.

The No. 43 driven by Bobby Hamilton at Phoenix International Raceway

John Andretti (1998-2003)[edit]

In 1998, journeyman John Andretti was hired and he gave the team three Top 5's in his first year, and another win at Martinsville the following. This would ultimately be the final win for Petty Enterprises. In 2000, Andretti began to fail and he only scored two Top 10's. The next year, he did score one Top 5 at Bristol.

The team lost longtime sponsor STP in mid-2000 and changed to General Mills. The #43 team began a noticeable downward slide, and would not win another race in Cup competition until 2014 as Richard Petty Motorsports.

Christian Fittipaldi (2003) and Jeff Green (2003-2005)[edit]

2003 saw Andretti get released fourteen races into the season in favor of Brazilian driver Christian Fittipaldi, who struggled and was also released after ten races. Jeff Green took over for 2004–2005, with a best finish of seventh at Martinsville in 2004.

Bobby Labonte (2006-2008)[edit]

In 2006, the team brought in 2000 Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte and former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Robbie Loomis. Many analysts saw this combination as the key to putting Petty Enterprises back into victory lane. The team's first year together showed promise, Labonte finished 21st in the points with eight top tens. Late in the 2007 season, Petty Enterprises moved its shop into the old Robert Yates Racing facility in Mooresville, North Carolina. It would be the first time since the inception of the company that it wouldn't be located in Randleman, North Carolina. "PE believes that this is necessary to move forward with the team," Richard Petty said. "It's kind of hard for us and the people in the community to accept maybe we're not there anymore. We just feel for us to move forward and keep up with where NASCAR is going, we just felt we had to try to go somewhere else."[5] That year, Labonte improved to 18th in points. Labonte fell back to 21st in points in 2008, posting just two top-10 finishes Earlier in the year, General Mills announced they would leave the team to sponsor Richard Childress Racing's fourth cup car in 2009. Rumors surfaced in early December 2008 that Petty Enterprises may cease operations and liquidate its assets, since Boston Venture was unable to secure sponsorship for the No. 43.

Merger with Evernham Motorsports (2009)[edit]

In January 2009, Petty Enterprises merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports and the No. 43 car was absorbed into the team. Labonte left the team before the 2009 season, leaving the car with no driver and no sponsor for 2009. By January 2009, the only employees left were Robbie Loomis and Richard Petty himself. CEO David F. Zucker was reassigned to the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which Boston Ventures also controlled.

The team's merger with Gillett Evernham Motorsports moved the No. 43 over to that team, In 2021, RPM merged with GMS Racing and the No. 43 moved there where it is currently driven by Erik Jones.

Car No. 43 Results[edit]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
1972 Richard Petty 43 Plymouth RSD
1
DAY
26
RCH
1
ONT
4
CAR
2
ATL
6
BRI
3
DAR
2
NWS
1
MAR
1
RSD
23*
BRI
2
TRN
3
NSV
2
RCH
1*
DOV
2
MAR
1
NWS
1
CAR
2
1st 8701.4
Dodge TAL
5
CLT
19
DOV
2
MCH
3
TWS
1*
DAY
2
ATL
2
TAL
7
MCH
4
DAR
3
CLT
10
TWS
3
1973 RSD
21
DAY
1
RCH
1*
CAR
23
BRI
2
ATL
34
NWS
1*
DAR
7
MAR
21
TAL
35
NSV
13
CLT
13
DOV
4
TWS
1
RSD
2
MCH
3
DAY
2
BRI
21
ATL
33
TAL
14
NSV
2
DAR
4
RCH
1*
DOV
7
NWS
2*
MAR
1
CLT
2
CAR
35
5th 6877.95
1974 RSD
2
DAY
1
RCH
2
CAR
1*
BRI
23
ATL
6
DAR
20
NWS
1*
MAR
2
TAL
3
NSV
1
DOV
3
CLT
2
RSD
25
MCH
1*
DAY
2
BRI
3
NSV
13*
ATL
1
POC
1*
TAL
1
MCH
2
DAR
35
RCH
1*
DOV
1*
NWS
2
MAR
29
CLT
2
CAR
3
ONT
15*
1st 5037.75
1975 RSD
7
DAY
7
RCH
1*
CAR
3
BRI
1*
ATL
1*
NWS
1*
DAR
26
MAR
1*
TAL
19
NSV
7
DOV
3
CLT
1*
RSD
1
MCH
2
DAY
1
NSV
2
POC
2
TAL
2
MCH
1
DAR
2*
DOV
1*
NWS
1*
MAR
22
CLT
1*
RCH
28
CAR
35
BRI
1*
ATL
3
ONT
16
1st 4783
1976 RSD
25
DAY
2
CAR
1*
RCH
2
BRI
27
ATL
28
NWS
2
DAR
23
MAR
4
TAL
4
NSV
2
DOV
6
CLT
2
RSD
9
MCH
4
DAY
22
NSV
2
POC
1
TAL
20
MCH
3
BRI
2
DAR
2
RCH
3
DOV
2
MAR
4
NWS
3
CLT
8
CAR
1*
ATL
28
ONT
27
2nd 4449
1977 RSD
3
DAY
26
RCH
6
CAR
1*
ATL
1
NWS
2
DAR
3
BRI
3
MAR
3
TAL
20
NSV
5
DOV
3
CLT
1*
RSD
1*
MCH
2
DAY
1*
NSV
3
POC
2
TAL
11
MCH
8
BRI
22
DAR
4
RCH
2
DOV
23
MAR
4
NWS
24*
CLT
32
CAR
2
ATL
6
ONT
2
2nd 4614
1978 RSD
16
DAY
33
RCH
22
CAR
4
ATL
26
BRI
25
DAR
5
NWS
2
MAR
3
TAL
11
DOV
7
CLT
8
NSV
3
RSD
2
MCH
6
DAY
4
NSV
23
POC
30
TAL
7
6th 3949
Chevy MCH
14
BRI
5
DAR
3
RCH
20
DOV
27
MAR
6
NWS
4
CLT
27
CAR
6
ATL
2
ONT
34
1979 RSD
32
CAR
32
RCH
5
NWS
2*
DAR
2
MAR
1*
NSV
2*
CLT
2
TWS
6
RSD
3
MCH
5
NSV
5
POC
2
MCH
1
BRI
2
DAR
9
RCH
6
DOV
1
MAR
2
CLT
4
NWS
3
CAR
1
ATL
6
ONT
5
1st 4830
Olds DAY
1
ATL
11
BRI
4
TAL
4
DOV
30
DAY
5
TAL
4
1980 Chevy RSD
3
RCH
3
CAR
2
ATL
33
BRI
8
DAR
9
NWS
1*
MAR
3
NSV
1
DOV
2
CLT
4
TWS
2
RSD
8
MCH
5
NSV
5
POC
33
MCH
5
BRI
4
DAR
9
RCH
2
DOV
17
NWS
18
MAR
15
CLT
27
CAR
14
ATL
21
ONT
30
4th 4255
Olds DAY
25
TAL
31
DAY
5
TAL
18
1981 Kyle Petty Chevy RSD
20
8th 3880
Richard Petty Buick DAY
1
RCH
3
CAR
3
ATL
38
BRI
29
NWS
1
DAR
33
MAR
28
TAL
39
NSV
4
DOV
19
CLT
24
TWS
4
RSD
3
MCH
6
DAY
3
NSV
9
POC
2
TAL
40
MCH
1*
BRI
24
DAR
30
RCH
11
DOV
10
MAR
18
NWS
21
CLT
30
CAR
4
ATL
26
RSD
7
1982 Pontiac DAY
27
RCH
2
BRI
7
ATL
2
CAR
30
DAR
31
NWS
5
MAR
15
TAL
27
NSV
9
DOV
24
CLT
8
POC
7
RSD
36
MCH
26
DAY
25
NSV
7
POC
2*
TAL
3
MCH
2
BRI
26
DAR
2
RCH
13
DOV
30
NWS
4
CLT
8
MAR
3
CAR
6
ATL
15
RSD
31
5th 3814
1983 DAY
38
RCH
8
CAR
1
ATL
5
DAR
25
NWS
10
MAR
17
TAL
1*
NSV
6
DOV
7
BRI
5
CLT
2
RSD
10
POC
3
MCH
11
DAY
33
NSV
19
POC
10
TAL
4
MCH
6
BRI
9
DAR
12
RCH
6
DOV
9
MAR
9
NWS
12
CLT
1
CAR
26
ATL
5
RSD
10
4th 4042
1986 DAY
36
RCH
20
CAR
3
ATL
11
BRI
14
DAR
7
NWS
29
MAR
28
TAL
7
DOV
6
CLT
Wth
RSD
6
POC
19
MCH
13
DAY
22
POC
34
TAL
37
GLN
10
MCH
18
BRI
7
DAR
40
RCH
4
DOV
12
MAR
16
NWS
3
CLT
35
CAR
8
ATL
2
RSD
21
14th 3314
1987 DAY
3
CAR
15
RCH
23
ATL
14
DAR
3
NWS
6
BRI
2
MAR
22
TAL
16
CLT
4
DOV
36
POC
29
RSD
6
MCH
12
DAY
26
POC
8
TAL
37
GLN
14
MCH
11
BRI
5
DAR
3
RCH
5
DOV
9
MAR
13
NWS
9
CLT
5
CAR
17
RSD
4
ATL
30
8th 3708
1988 DAY
34
RCH
3
CAR
41
ATL
23
DAR
41
BRI
6
NWS
6
MAR
32
TAL
20
CLT
15
DOV
15
RSD
6
POC
26
MCH
24
DAY
20
POC
28
TAL
21
GLN
17
MCH
39
BRI
8
DAR
33
RCH
34
DOV
38
MAR
27
CLT
38
NWS
18
CAR
25
PHO
35
ATL
36
22nd 2644
1989 DAY
17
CAR
16
ATL
27
RCH
DNQ
DAR
15
BRI
DNQ
NWS
DNQ
MAR
24
TAL
23
CLT
19
DOV
20
SON
26
POC
25
MCH
30
DAY
20
POC
38
TAL
21
GLN
13
MCH
18
BRI
DNQ
DAR
35
RCH
33
DOV
30
MAR
24
CLT
34
NWS
32
CAR
34
PHO
42
ATL
28
29th 2148
1990 DAY
34
RCH
35
CAR
32
ATL
25
DAR
21
BRI
26
NWS
29
MAR
20
TAL
29
CLT
27
DOV
21
SON
26
POC
38
MCH
11
DAY
36
POC
9
TAL
29
GLN
18
MCH
33
BRI
29
DAR
34
RCH
21
DOV
16
MAR
29
NWS
17
CLT
20
CAR
21
PHO
23
ATL
17
26th 2556
1991 DAY
19
RCH
11
CAR
15
ATL
38
DAR
37
BRI
17
NWS
16
MAR
14
TAL
40
CLT
20
DOV
17
SON
34
POC
11
MCH
35
DAY
22
POC
31
TAL
18
GLN
9
MCH
23
BRI
12
DAR
16
RCH
24
DOV
20
MAR
30
NWS
19
CLT
12
CAR
16
PHO
41
ATL
22
24th 2817
1992 DAY
16
CAR
16
RCH
21
ATL
16
DAR
32
BRI
27
NWS
31
MAR
29
TAL
15
CLT
41
DOV
20
SON
21
POC
16
MCH
15
DAY
36
POC
20
TAL
15
GLN
28
MCH
18
BRI
16
DAR
20
RCH
16
DOV
28
MAR
18
NWS
27
CLT
27
CAR
25
PHO
22
ATL
35
26th 2731
1994 Wally Dallenbach Jr. DAY
17
CAR
27
RCH
DNQ
ATL
DNQ
DAR
41
BRI
17
NWS
16
MAR
DNQ
TAL
41
SON
4
CLT
25
DOV
10
POC
17
MCH
DNQ
DAY
DNQ
NHA
DNQ
POC
16
TAL
8
IND
23
GLN
14
27th 2893
John Andretti MCH
17
BRI
30
DAR
16
RCH
11
DOV
25
MAR
21
NWS
17
CLT
24
CAR
25
PHO
43
ATL
13
1995 Bobby Hamilton DAY
18
CAR
36
RCH
9
ATL
17
DAR
9
BRI
4
NWS
13
MAR
8
TAL
15
SON
14
CLT
9
DOV
24
POC
15
MCH
25
DAY
40
NHA
16
POC
19
TAL
21
IND
11
GLN
33
MCH
8
BRI
20
DAR
14
RCH
5
DOV
2
MAR
4
NWS
16
CLT
10
CAR
30
PHO
31
ATL
25
14th 3576
1996 DAY
20
CAR
24
RCH
6*
ATL
16
DAR
16
BRI
32
NWS
8
MAR
6
TAL
11
SON
17
CLT
31
DOV
21
POC
5
MCH
15
DAY
16
NHA
20
POC
39
TAL
17
IND
31
GLN
38
MCH
13
BRI
10
DAR
19
RCH
7
DOV
10
MAR
3*
NWS
8
CLT
19
CAR
28
PHO
1
ATL
6
9th 3639
1997 DAY
15
CAR
28
RCH
5
ATL
10
DAR
37
TEX
20
BRI
13
MAR
2
SON
19
TAL
31
CLT
29
DOV
17
POC
39
MCH
32
CAL
23
DAY
20
NHA
31
POC
32
IND
20
GLN
28
MCH
26
BRI
22
DAR
20
RCH
38
NHA
3
DOV
13
MAR
3
CLT
21
TAL
20
CAR
1
PHO
3
ATL
7
16th 3450
1998 John Andretti DAY
18
CAR
13
LVS
41
ATL
20
DAR
13
BRI
19
TEX
42
MAR
18
TAL
33
CAL
31
CLT
7
DOV
12
RCH
22
MCH
20
POC
13
SON
3
NHA
6
POC
12
IND
7
GLN
8
MCH
9
BRI
38
NHA
3
DAR
14
RCH
5
DOV
9
MAR
37
CLT
12
TAL
21
DAY
14
PHO
6
CAR
34
ATL
32
11th 3682
1999 DAY
43
CAR
19
LVS
12
ATL
28
DAR
9
TEX
38
BRI
4
MAR
1
TAL
9
CAL
17
RCH
39
CLT
19
DOV
13
MCH
8
POC
28
SON
3
DAY
19
NHA
18
POC
42
IND
37
GLN
29
MCH
10
BRI
40
DAR
18
RCH
9
NHA
41
DOV
41
MAR
43
CLT
17
TAL
32
CAR
7
PHO
8
HOM
16
ATL
33
17th 3394
2000 DAY
22
CAR
12
LVS
25
ATL
18
DAR
20
BRI
33
TEX
32
MAR
14
TAL
11
CAL
25
RCH
18
CLT
31
DOV
13
MCH
9
POC
21
SON
43
DAY
14
NHA
40
POC
41
IND
42
GLN
37
MCH
27
BRI
20
DAR
37
RCH
11
NHA
7
DOV
22
MAR
13
CLT
18
TAL
20
CAR
23
PHO
28
HOM
37
ATL
19
23rd 3169
2001 Dodge DAY
39
CAR
21
LVS
37
ATL
14
DAR
6
BRI
2
TEX
31
MAR
35
TAL
37
CAL
26
RCH
34
CLT
DNQ
DOV
19
MCH
37
POC
39
SON
30
DAY
22
CHI
23
NHA
23
POC
27
IND
14
GLN
14
MCH
26
BRI
21
DAR
21
RCH
30
DOV
19
KAN
39
CLT
26
MAR
33
TAL
34
PHO
39
CAR
29
HOM
22
ATL
25
NHA
36
31st 2943
2002 DAY
37
CAR
15
LVS
36
ATL
36
DAR
22
BRI
34
TEX
22
MAR
42
TAL
38
CAL
24
RCH
20
CLT
15
DOV
32
POC
31
MCH
23
SON
10
DAY
24
CHI
22
NHA
25
POC
23
IND
26
GLN
11
MCH
20
BRI
19
DAR
42
RCH
29
NHA
22
DOV
29
KAN
14
TAL
18
CLT
23
MAR
13
ATL
43
CAR
18
PHO
14
HOM
39
28th 3161
2003 DAY
34
CAR
39
LVS
18
ATL
29
DAR
38
BRI
31
TEX
19
TAL
14
MAR
30
CAL
8
RCH
30
CLT
39
DOV
34
POC
23
41st 2911
Christian Fittipaldi MCH
35
SON
40
CHI
29
NHA
37
POC
24
IND
DNQ
MCH
33
BRI
41
DAR
43
RCH
43
NHA
31
Shane Hmiel DAY
DNQ
Scott Maxwell GLN
DNQ
Jeff Green DOV
16
TAL
18
KAN
27
CLT
27
MAR
24
ATL
DNQ
PHO
37
CAR
19
HOM
40
2004 DAY
33
CAR
28
LVS
34
ATL
19
DAR
24
BRI
29
TEX
35
MAR
24
TAL
19
CAL
37
RCH
37
CLT
27
DOV
31
POC
15
MCH
27
SON
27
DAY
30
CHI
28
NHA
24
POC
33
IND
14
GLN
17
MCH
23
BRI
29
CAL
27
RCH
25
NHA
19
DOV
21
TAL
39
KAN
29
CLT
35
MAR
7
ATL
21
PHO
23
DAR
14
HOM
37
30th 3054
2005 DAY
16
CAL
27
LVS
23
ATL
28
BRI
29
MAR
22
TEX
43
PHO
21
TAL
25
DAR
22
RCH
24
CLT
11
DOV
30
POC
15
MCH
38
SON
29
DAY
34
CHI
24
NHA
31
POC
19
IND
15
GLN
24
MCH
24
BRI
22
CAL
25
RCH
16
NHA
17
DOV
27
TAL
21
KAN
26
CLT
19
MAR
37
ATL
29
TEX
18
PHO
28
HOM
30
29th 3241
2006 Bobby Labonte DAY
35
CAL
31
LVS
30
ATL
43
BRI
5
MAR
32
TEX
10
PHO
8
TAL
29
RCH
24
DAR
22
CLT
17
DOV
13
POC
12
MCH
28
SON
35
DAY
42
CHI
12
NHA
23
POC
8
IND
40
GLN
24
MCH
19
BRI
23
CAL
26
RCH
22
NHA
40
DOV
7
KAN
17
TAL
10
CLT
5
MAR
3
ATL
12
TEX
16
PHO
27
HOM
41
21st 3567
2007 DAY
21
CAL
28
LVS
13
ATL
16
BRI
22
MAR
43
TEX
28
PHO
8
TAL
20
RCH
15
DAR
19
CLT
13
DOV
18
POC
19
MCH
34
SON
33
NHA
18
DAY
35
CHI
20
IND
19
POC
30
GLN
24
MCH
9
BRI
8
CAL
11
RCH
16
NHA
22
DOV
27
KAN
42
TAL
35
CLT
12
MAR
22
ATL
41
TEX
16
PHO
18
HOM
23
18th 3517
2008 DAY
11
CAL
25
LVS
17
ATL
12
BRI
38
MAR
25
TEX
20
PHO
12
TAL
34
RCH
13
DAR
18
CLT
11
DOV
32
POC
11
MCH
31
SON
39
NHA
10
DAY
13
CHI
29
IND
16
POC
33
GLN
42
MCH
27
BRI
23
CAL
21
RCH
21
NHA
13
DOV
14
KAN
24
TAL
6
CLT
17
MAR
37
ATL
26
TEX
39
PHO
19
HOM
33
21st 3448

Car No. 44 history[edit]

The 44 car in 1997

Maurice Petty (1960-1961)[edit]

The No. 44 debuted in 1960 with driver Maurice Petty, Petty finished eighth. Maurice returned with the #44 in 1961, finishing twenty-first at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Rick Wilson (1993)[edit]

After Richard Petty's retirement, the No. 43 was renumbered as the No. 44 and Rick Wilson was signed to drive for 1993. Wilson struggled, only placing in the top 10 once at Sonoma, and was released at the end of the season.

Kyle Petty (1997-2000)[edit]

The No. 44 returned when Kyle Petty formed his own PE2 Motorsports team for the 1997 season. After 1998 the team merged into Petty Enterprises and Kyle became the team's new CEO. Midway through 2000 after his son Adam Petty was killed while practicing for a Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway, Kyle elected to finish out Adam's Busch season in his No. 45 and would switch to using the No. 45 in Cup from the 2001 season onwards. Steve Grissom would complete the season in the No. 44.

Buckshot Jones (2001-2002)[edit]

The No. 44 became a Dodge team in 2001 with a sponsorship from Georgia-Pacific and Buckshot Jones driving. In his first year driving the car, Jones finished 41st in points, failing to qualify six times and not recording a single Top 10 finish. Jones returned in 2002 but again struggled, and was released approximately mid-season. Petty Enterprises hired several substitute drivers including Jerry Nadeau, who nearly led the team to victory at Sonoma in June, and Greg Biffle, who ran the last three races.

After being used sparingly over the next season, recent Petty signee Christian Fittipaldi was to take over the car for 2004, but was released.

In 2009, Petty said the No. 44 would return with McCumbee, but McCumbee said "the plans are up in the air" due to lack of funding. With the recent merger with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, those plans were completely scrapped and McCumbee was without a ride for 2009. The No. 44 instead took the place for the No. 10 at Richard Petty Motorsports, with A. J. Allmendinger driving.

Car No. 44 Results[edit]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
1993 Rick Wilson 44 Pontiac DAY
34
CAR
17
RCH
25
ATL
24
DAR
26
BRI
25
NWS
23
MAR
17
TAL
16
SON
8
CLT
32
DOV
11
POC
12
MCH
34
DAY
11
NHA
28
POC
21
TAL
23
GLN
22
MCH
28
BRI
28
DAR
30
RCH
29
DOV
34
NWS
33
CLT
36
CAR
26
PHO
20
ATL
23
28th 2647
Jimmy Hensley MAR
34
1997 Kyle Petty DAY
14
CAR
29
RCH
10
ATL
13
DAR
33
TEX
27
BRI
29
MAR
40
SON
13
TAL
40
CLT
14
DOV
5
POC
14
MCH
26
CAL
31
DAY
7
NHA
13
POC
8
IND
13
GLN
26
MCH
23
BRI
36
DAR
32
RCH
20
NHA
12
DOV
3
MAR
26
CLT
9
TAL
7
CAR
22
PHO
9
ATL
6
15th 3455
1998 DAY
11
CAR
24
LVS
22
ATL
36
DAR
29
BRI
38
TEX
17
MAR
34
TAL
38
CAL
42
CLT
30
DOV
42
RCH
24
MCH
36
POC
31
SON
26
NHA
8
POC
21
IND
14
GLN
6
MCH
29
BRI
12
NHA
33
DAR
28
RCH
39
DOV
41
MAR
29
CLT
18
TAL
20
DAY
22
PHO
36
CAR
39
ATL
29
30th 2675
1999 DAY
7
CAR
43
LVS
DNQ
ATL
43
DAR
31
TEX
DNQ
BRI
8
MAR
10
TAL
13
CAL
26
RCH
7
CLT
30
DOV
32
MCH
27
POC
19
SON
8
DAY
36
NHA
41
POC
16
IND
41
GLN
8
MCH
31
BRI
29
DAR
28
RCH
15
NHA
33
DOV
20
MAR
7
CLT
32
TAL
19
CAR
23
PHO
7
HOM
7
ATL
24
26th 3103
2000 DAY
25
CAR
31
LVS
29
ATL
26
DAR
25
BRI
24
TEX
DNQ
MAR
38
TAL
9
CAL
26
RCH
28
DOV
DNQ
MCH
39
POC
41
SON
19
DAY
30
POC
40
IND
DNQ
GLN
41
MCH
DNQ
BRI
22
37th 1860
Steve Grissom CLT
DNQ
NHA
36
DAR
26
RCH
27
NHA
DNQ
DOV
27
MAR
DNQ
CLT
DNQ
TAL
16
CAR
DNQ
PHO
DNQ
HOM
DNQ
ATL
DNQ
2001 Buckshot Jones Dodge DAY
29
CAR
35
LVS
36
ATL
19
DAR
41
BRI
33
TEX
33
MAR
38
TAL
16
CAL
DNQ
RCH
DNQ
CLT
27
DOV
26
MCH
36
POC
42
SON
36
DAY
DNQ
CHI
38
NHA
24
POC
39
IND
36
MCH
DNQ
BRI
43
DAR
35
RCH
37
DOV
38
KAN
31
CLT
DNQ
MAR
30
TAL
28
PHO
16
CAR
38
HOM
34
ATL
33
NHA
41
41st 1939
Wally Dallenbach Jr. GLN
DNQ
2002 Buckshot Jones DAY
DNQ
CAR
41
LVS
23
ATL
12
DAR
19
BRI
40
TEX
26
MAR
33
37th 2031
Steve Grissom TAL
25
CAL
33
RCH
8
CLT
32
DOV
25
POC
26
MCH
40
DAY
DNQ
CHI
31
NHA
28
MAR
40
Jerry Nadeau SON
34
POC
36
IND
24
GLN
26
MCH
32
BRI
21
DAR
41
RCH
27
NHA
28
DOV
42
KAN
27
TAL
24
CLT
13
Ted Musgrave ATL
28
Greg Biffle CAR
25
HOM
25
Christian Fittipaldi PHO
41
2003 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY
DNQ
CHI NHA POC IND GLN
40
MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV
DNQ
TAL
28
KAN CLT
34
MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM 57th 183

Car No. 45 history[edit]

Kyle Petty's 2007 Dodge Avenger

The No. 45 was not always part of Petty Enterprises.

Adam Petty (2000)[edit]

The team appeared to be on the rise again with fourth-generation driver Adam Petty joining the team. He made his first Winston Cup start in April 2000, and many experts believed he would be the future of the team. Kyle Petty was planning to move out of the cockpit soon after, and into the full-time ownership role of the team.

About a month and a half after his first career Winston Cup start, Adam Petty was killed in a practice crash at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. The tragedy deeply affected the team. Kyle Petty took over what was supposed to be Adam's No. 45 car, and drove it for several seasons in his honor.

Kyle Petty (2001-2008)[edit]

Kyle Petty would have sponsorships from Sprint now driving the No. 45 in honor of his son. From 2003 to 2005, he would pick up Georgia-Pacific and Brawny (moving over from the No. 44 team) as his sponsors, but was still unable to bring Petty Enterprises back to its former days. With the addition of both Bobby Labonte and Robbie Loomis in 2006, as well as sponsors Wells Fargo and National Tire & Battery, Petty improved his position to 34th in the points.

For 2007, with the passing of Benny Parsons, Petty would join TNT for six races, dubbed their "Summer Series". During this time, John Andretti returned to the team for four races, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Chad McCumbee made his debut at Pocono Raceway. Before his stint in the booth for TNT, Petty had some significant on-track success, finishing third in the Coca-Cola 600, his first Top 5 Cup finish since 1997. After the Centurion Boats at the Glen, Kyle injured his hand in the team's hauler due to punching a desk. Petty would sit out two races while Kenny Wallace and McCumbee filled in. The No. 45 team finished 35th in the 2007 owners points.[6] Kyle Petty in an interview with NASCAR.com said: "I no longer work for the team" when referring to Petty Enterprises.

While the No. 45 car posted no Top 10s and went through multiple sponsors and drivers, it was announced in early December 2008 that Petty Enterprises may cease operations and liquidate its assets since Boston Venture was unable to secure sponsorship for the No. 45. In January 2009, when Petty Enterprises merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, the No. 45 team was folded, leaving Kyle Petty with no ride for 2009.

Car No. 45 Results[edit]

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2000 Adam Petty 45 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX
40
MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV 64th 103
Kyle Petty Pontiac MAR
31
CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM
DNQ
ATL
2001 Dodge DAY
16
CAR
DNQ
LVS
DNQ
ATL
42
DAR
35
BRI
41
TEX
DNQ
MAR
42
TAL
DNQ
CAL
35
RCH
22
CLT
DNQ
DOV
DNQ
MCH
27
POC
34
SON
22
DAY
29
CHI
DNQ
NHA
26
POC
31
IND
DNQ
GLN
39
MCH
25
BRI
DNQ
DAR
26
RCH
25
DOV
43
KAN
DNQ
CLT
DNQ
MAR
DNQ
TAL
33
PHO
43
CAR
43
HOM
16
ATL
30
NHA
23
43rd 1673
2002 DAY
41
CAR
37
LVS
30
ATL
15
DAR
14
BRI
12
TEX
21
MAR
20
TAL
10
CAL
17
RCH
23
CLT
13
DOV
20
POC
13
MCH
12
SON
17
DAY
19
CHI
24
NHA
37
POC
27
IND
25
GLN
29
MCH
25
BRI
15
DAR
13
RCH
17
NHA
39
DOV
16
KAN
15
TAL
16
CLT
20
MAR
37
ATL
14
CAR
30
PHO
32
HOM
31
22nd 3501
2003 DAY
13
CAR
35
LVS
31
ATL
34
DAR
36
BRI
34
TAL
11
MAR
34
CAL
28
RCH
27
CLT
30
DOV
43
POC
27
MCH
34
SON
27
DAY
23
CHI
27
NHA
32
POC
34
IND
40
GLN
42
MCH
16
BRI
34
DAR
27
RCH
34
NHA
30
DOV
32
TAL
DNQ
KAN
23
CLT
40
MAR
25
ATL
25
PHO
35
CAR
32
HOM
DNQ
37th 2414
Christian Fittipaldi TEX
38
2004 Kyle Petty DAY
21
CAR
39
LVS
12
ATL
28
DAR
34
BRI
25
TEX
21
MAR
18
TAL
24
CAL
39
RCH
27
CLT
38
DOV
37
POC
37
MCH
18
SON
32
DAY
24
CHI
26
NHA
27
POC
19
IND
23
GLN
18
MCH
29
BRI
37
CAL
35
RCH
34
NHA
21
DOV
17
TAL
29
KAN
38
CLT
27
MAR
22
ATL
29
PHO
28
DAR
35
HOM
DNQ
33rd 2811
2005 DAY
17
CAL
18
LVS
25
ATL
36
BRI
8
MAR
18
TEX
24
PHO
31
TAL
43
DAR
28
RCH
33
CLT
17
DOV
19
POC
41
MCH
30
SON
27
DAY
19
CHI
27
NHA
29
POC
30
IND
13
GLN
20
MCH
33
BRI
25
CAL
41
RCH
27
NHA
21
DOV
8
TAL
24
KAN
29
CLT
15
MAR
14
ATL
25
TEX
21
PHO
19
HOM
27
27th 3288
2006 DAY
39
CAL
25
LVS
29
ATL
8
BRI
18
MAR
30
TEX
39
PHO
31
TAL
18
RCH
26
DAR
18
CLT
25
DOV
27
POC
40
MCH
35
SON
21
DAY
28
CHI
28
NHA
28
POC
42
IND
27
GLN
30
MCH
31
BRI
34
CAL
35
RCH
34
NHA
37
DOV
25
KAN
29
TAL
38
CLT
22
MAR
10
ATL
17
TEX
11
PHO
25
HOM
28
32nd 2928
2007 DAY
42
CAL
22
LVS
28
ATL
34
BRI
20
MAR
22
TEX
35
PHO
30
TAL
18
RCH
25
DAR
25
CLT
3
DOV
34
SON
39
IND
32
POC
34
GLN
43
CAL
28
RCH
35
NHA
37
DOV
40
KAN
21
TAL
28
CLT
18
MAR
21
ATL
13
TEX
42
PHO
29
HOM
34
35th 2814
Chad McCumbee POC
25
MCH
41
John Andretti MCH
27
NHA
42
DAY
28
CHI
18
Kenny Wallace BRI
32
2008 Kyle Petty DAY
34
CAL
38
LVS
41
ATL
32
BRI
28
MAR
DNQ
PHO
DNQ
TAL
32
RCH
27
DAR
41
CLT
36
BRI
31
CAL
38
RCH
24
DOV
40
KAN
41
PHO
39
41st 2253
Chad McCumbee TEX
DNQ
DOV
DNQ
POC
17
NHA
42
CLT
35
MAR
25
ATL
35
TEX
DNQ
HOM
36
Terry Labonte POC
30
MCH
29
SON
17
NHA
35
DAY
16
CHI
38
IND
27
MCH
32
TAL
17
Boris Said GLN
24

Busch Series[edit]

Car No. 8 history[edit]

In 2000, Petty Enterprises fielded the No. 8 car for Steve Grissom at Rockingham. He finished 37th.

Car No. 8 Results[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 NBSC Pts
2000 Steve Grissom 8 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX NSV TAL CAL RCH NHA CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NZH PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR
37
MEM PHO HOM

Car No. 30 history[edit]

Petty Enterprises made their Busch Series debut in 1988 with Kyle Petty as the driver of the No. 30 car.

Car No. 30 Results[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NBSC Pts
1988 Kyle Petty 30 Ford DAY
12
HCY CAR
14
MAR DAR
37
BRI
18
LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT
14
DOV
34
ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP
8
ROU BRI DAR
15
RCH DOV
30
MAR CLT
37
CAR
25
MAR

Car No. 43 history[edit]

In 1994, Petty Enterprises hired Rodney Combs to drive the No. 43 Black Flag/French's Pontiac the following year. Despite the famous ride, 1994 was a roller coaster. Combs did not make four of the 27 races, but matched his three top-10s of '93. Combs best runs were a pair of 9th at Martinsville and Myrtle Beach and a 10th at Bristol. Yet, Combs did have seven other top-20s. However, in addition to poor qualifying results with the first year team, Combs' team had 9 DNFs, a tough thing to overcome. (In Combs' defense, all but two were mechanical) This led to a poor 21st place showing in points.

Combs' best career year in any NASCAR series came in 1995, where he finished 11th in points. This year, Combs made all the races, and this enabled him to once again earn three top-10s. Combs earned new career bests of 6th at Myrtle Beach and Atlanta, and tacked on a 10th at Dover International Speedway and a large 16 other top-20s to boot. Along with a lesser DNF count (4), Combs' team looked in good shape for 1996.

However, 1996 was not Combs' best year, and it began to lead to his departure from the sport. Combs made all but one start in 1996, and earned 18th in points, after another up-and-down year. Combs earned a pair of sixths as his only top-10s in 1996 at Daytona and Atlanta. (Combs would later prove to have a career best finish of 6th-four times) Combs did earn what would prove to be his best career start: a 3rd at Myrtle Beach. However, on the flipside, Combs only earned 9 top-20s, down from 19 in 1995, the primary reason for his points slide.

In 1997, Petty Enterprises sold the 43 team to David Ridling.

Car No. 43 Results[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NBSC Pts
1994 Rodney Combs 43 Pontiac DAY
11
CAR
27
RCH
38
ATL
18
MAR
9
DAR
28
HCY
DNQ
BRI
10
ROU
28
NHA
29
NZH
38
CLT
27
DOV
14
MYB
9
GLN
11
MLW
14
SBO
13
TAL
28
HCY
DNQ
IRP
17
MCH
39
BRI DAR
42
RCH
35
DOV
24
CLT
32
Dick Trickle MAR
35
Robert Pressley CAR
10
1995 Rodney Combs DAY
16
CAR
11
RCH
20
ATL
6
NSV
16
DAR
17
BRI
19
HCY
19
NHA
12
NZH
21
CLT
41
DOV
11
MYB
6
GLN
14
MLW
23
TAL
39
SBO
13
IRP
33
MCH
17
BRI
15
DAR
20
RCH
36
DOV
10
CLT
15
CAR
17
HOM
22
1996 Chevy DAY
6
ATL
6
DAR
34
HCY
21
NZH
17
CLT
26
MYB
22
GLN
21
MLW
28
NHA
27
TAL
35
IRP
28
MCH
20
BRI
22
DAR
17
RCH
17
DOV
12
CLT
DNQ
CAR
34
HOM
38
Pontiac CAR
DNQ
RCH
11
NSV
19
BRI
28
DOV
11
SBO
24

Car No. 45 history[edit]

In 1999, Petty Enterprises fielded the No. 45 Chevrolet for Adam Petty. Petty finished sixth in his first Busch Series race at Daytona and had a best finish of fourth place at Fontana, though he also failed to qualify for three of the Busch races. Petty finished the 1999 season 20th overall in points.

Petty Enterprises planned to have Petty run a second Busch season in 2000, while giving him seven starts in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, in preparation for a full Winston Cup campaign in 2001. On May 12, 2000, in a practice session for the Busch 200 race[7] at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which would have been his 48th career Busch Series start, Petty's throttle had stuck wide open going into the third turn of the track, causing the car to hit the outside wall virtually head on, killing Adam instantly as he developed a basilar skull fracture.[8] He was 19 years old. Adam's father Kyle Petty, who had driven the No. 44 Hot Wheels-sponsored Pontiac Grand Prix Winston Cup car at the time of his son's fatal crash at New Hampshire, chose to take over Adam's No. 45 car in the Busch Series for the remainder of 2000 season.

In 2001, Steve Grissom drove the No. 45 car at Daytona. He finished 26th.

Car No. 45 Results[edit]

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NBSC Pts
1999 Adam Petty 45 Chevy DAY
6
CAR
DNQ
DAR
24
TEX
39
NSV
13
BRI
18
TAL
23
CAL
4
NHA
24
RCH
28
NZH
5
CLT
43
DOV
40
SBO
33
GLN
32
MLW
30
MYB
DNQ
PPR
29
GTY
34
IRP
27
MCH
35
BRI
22
DAR
15
RCH
40
DOV
30
CLT
DNQ
CAR
30
MEM
5
PHO
38
HOM
33
Pontiac LVS
29
ATL
34
2000 Chevy DAY
37
CAR
27
LVS
17
ATL
25
DAR
16
BRI
40
TEX
39
NSV
34
TAL
12
CAL
27
RCH
16
NHA
Wth
CLT
Kyle Petty DOV
26
SBO MYB GLN MLW
8
NZH
5
PPR GTY
9
IRP
15
MCH
11
BRI
19
DAR
13
RCH
29
DOV
40
CLT
17
CAR
15
MEM
21
PHO
16
HOM
9
2001 Steve Grissom DAY
26
CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV KEN MLW GLN CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR HOM

Craftsman Truck Series[edit]

Truck No. 34 history[edit]

In 1999, Petty Enterprises fielded the No. 34 truck for Adam Petty at Richmond and Texas.

Truck No. 34 Results[edit]

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts
1999 Adam Petty 34 Dodge HOM PHO EVG MMR MAR MEM PPR I70 BRI TEX PIR GLN MLW NSV NZH MCH NHA IRP GTY HPT RCH
10
LVS LVL TEX
16
CAL

Truck No. 42 history[edit]

In 1997, Petty Enterprises fielded the No. 42 truck for Ken Bouchard at Texas. He finished 10th.

Truck No. 42 Results[edit]

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 NCTC Pts
1997 Ken Bouchard 42 Dodge WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX
10
BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH MAR SON MMR CAL PHO LVS

Truck No. 43 history[edit]

In 1995, Petty Enterprises made their Craftsman Truck Series debut with Rodney Combs drove the No. 43 truck part-time.

In 1996, the No. 43 would run full-time with Rich Bickle as the driver. He won two poles and ended the season with 9 top-10 finishes.

In 1997, Jimmy Hensley joined the team to pilot the No. 43 Cummins Dodge in the next three seasons.

In 1998, Hensley found victory lane at Nashville and finished sixth in the final points standings.

In 1999, he finished first at Martinsville, recording what would be the last win of his career.

In 2000, Steve Grissom was hired by Petty Enterprises to drive their No. 43 Dodge Ram in the Craftsman Truck Series. While he did not visit victory lane, Grissom finished in the top-five six times and finished tenth in points.

In 2001, Carlos Contreras would drive the No. 43 Dodge full-time. He would post two top tens on the season and move up to 14th in the overall points standings.

In 2002, Contreras returned with to the series with Petty Enterprises and again turned in another solid season. He would post one top ten on the season and would rank 16th in the overall point standings.

Truck No. 43 Results[edit]

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NCTC Pts
1995 Rodney Combs 43 Chevy PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW
10
CNS HPT IRP
4
FLM RCH
16
MAR
14
NWS
11
SON MMR PHO
1996 Rich Bickle Dodge HOM
21
PHO
30
POR
27
EVG
4
TUS
2*
CNS
32
HPT
12
BRI
19
NZH
15
MLW
20
LVL
27
I70
10
IRP
5
FLM
3
GLN
5
NSV
18
RCH
16
NHA
12
MAR
7
NWS
8
SON
29
MMR
8
PHO
11
LVS
11
1997 Jimmy Hensley WDW
6
TUS
8
HOM
13
PHO
14
POR
11
EVG
25
I70
2
NHA
23
TEX
12
BRI
8
NZH
25
MLW
8
LVL
3
CNS
8
HPT
7
IRP
3*
FLM
13
NSV
15
GLN
6
RCH
13
MAR
4
SON
6
MMR
9
CAL
34
PHO
19
LVS
15
1998 WDW
14
HOM
28
PHO
14
POR
12
EVG
19
I70
24
GLN
31
TEX
33
BRI
9
MLW
2
NZH
6
CAL
20
PPR
5
IRP
14
NHA
6
FLM
5
NSV
1
HPT
3
LVL
7
RCH
16
MEM
3
GTY
6
MAR
2
SON
5
MMR
21
PHO
9
LVS
3
1999 HOM
29
PHO
7
EVG
21
MMR
5
MAR
1
MEM
30
PPR
5
I70
5*
BRI
12
TEX
8
PIR
23
GLN
23
MLW
12
NSV
3
NZH
9
MCH
3
NHA
9
IRP
30
GTY
10
HPT
14
RCH
15
LVS
7
LVL
3*
TEX
14
CAL
8
2000 Steve Grissom DAY
10
HOM
11
PHO
7
MMR
4
MAR
5
PIR
8
GTY
6
MEM
5
PPR
21
EVG
26
TEX
15
KEN
18
GLN
12
MLW
4
NHA
14
NZH
4
MCH
16
IRP
11
NSV
5
CIC
24
RCH
9
DOV
13
TEX
28
CAL
18
2001 Carlos Contreras DAY
20
HOM
7
MMR
22
MAR
11
GTY
21
DAR
27
PPR
29
DOV
12
TEX
9
MEM
27
MLW
22
KAN
12
KEN
16
NHA
21
IRP
14
NSH
17
CIC
15
NZH
16
RCH
23
SBO
17
TEX
23
LVS
20
PHO
21
CAL
22
2002 DAY
8
DAR
17
MAR
28
GTY
16
PPR
13
DOV
23
TEX
18
MEM
15
MLW
22
KAN
16
KEN
22
NHA
15
MCH
17
IRP
31
NSH
13
RCH
19
TEX
30
SBO
23
LVS
13
CAL
18
PHO
19
HOM
24

ARCA Racing Series[edit]

Petty Blue[edit]

Richard Petty's "Petty Blue" 1970 Plymouth Superbird on display

One of the most distinctive features of the No. 43 car is its color. Petty Blue, as it's called, was created by the Petty family. According to Richard, the color was created by accident when they didn't have enough white or dark blue paint to cover the entire car. The resulting mix of white and blue proved to be very popular and remains on the No. 43 car to this day.[9] Previous to that 1958 occurrence, Petty cars were generally white or red.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2021 Coca-Cola 600". NASCAR Cup Series on FOX. May 30, 2021. Fox.
  2. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  3. ^ "Race Results".
  4. ^ Long, Mark (2024-02-14). "Daytona unveils the first of 28 unique statues of Richard Petty's famed and feathered cowboy hat". washingtonpost. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Petty Enterprises leaving Level Cross era behind". 7 November 2007.
  6. ^ "NASCAR.com : drivers & teams : drivers". Archived from the original on 2002-02-12.
  7. ^ "Official Results | NASCAR Nationwide Series". Archived from the original on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  8. ^ "CNNSI.com - Motor Sports - Adam Petty killed in practice crash at NHIS - Friday July 07, 2000 02:33 PM". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. 2000-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  9. ^ "Which came first, the Plymouth or the Petty?". 16 November 2020.
  10. ^ "279 - Richard Petty: The King". Player.fm. Dirty Mo Media. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.

External links[edit]