More than sponsors, manufacturers, teams, or even
drivers, stock cars are known by their numbers. 43 is among the most famous of
them, and it's switching to a new car next season. Since its debut in 1954,
Petty Enterprises' No 43 has been worn by Dodges, Plymouths, Pontiacs,
Oldsmobiles, and Fords. But next year it will be on the new Chevy Camaro ZL1.
The switch coincides with a new deal penned between
Richard Petty Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing, whose ECR Engines
department builds the Chevy powertrains for NASCAR and the United SportsCar
Championship.
Though traditionally sponsored by STP motor oils,
this year the No 43 Camaro will be sponsored primarily by Click n' Close
mortgages. It'll be driven by Darrel “Bubba” Wallace, Jr, who moves up
full-time to the Monster Energy Cup this season after strong showings and race
wins in lower-level competition.
Though perhaps best known for his long-running
partnership with Plymouth, Petty's switch to Chevy for next year is something
of a homecoming. Together, Petty teams have won 31 Cup races under GM power,
stretching way back to the first Daytona 500 that Lee Petty won in an
Oldsmobile in 1959.
