Richard Petty is okay with the Petty name being stripped off from his team
NASCAR legend Richard Petty states that he is still involved with the team though he will now do things he was not able to do before.
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Richard Petty, Image via Twitter
The 2023 Cup season will mark the 75th-anniversary edition of NASCAR. It also marks the end of an era as the Petty name won’t feature in a car for the first time since the sport’s inception. Petty GMS Racing, which carried the family legacy, was rebranded as LEGACY MOTOR CLUB after Jimmie Johnson joined Richard Petty as team co-owner.
Matt Weaver, a motorsport journalist, had the opportunity to talk to Petty about the name change and his feelings about the move. When he asked the racing legend how he felt regarding the name, Petty replied, “I am okay”. The motorsport community has pacified themselves, saying if he is okay with it, then they could be too. However, this caused a stir in the media when the news was announced.
“Yeah, I am okay, I stand back and show up from time to time, I’m still involved with what’s going on. It gives me time to do a lot of other things I didn’t have time to do before. It is working out well for me. I’m 85 years old soon to be 86, wouldn’t hurt if I slowed down”. The King sounded like he’s made peace with it. Weaver pointed out that it was 75 years of NASCAR, and Petty was pretty much in most of it. The latter was not surprised by this perspective. Speaking about his team, Petty stated, “ Every year we have got a little bit better and a little bit bigger I don’t see that changing”. His commitment to the team remains the same though he won’t be out in front.
The King wants to slow down and do things he wasn’t able to do before
Though this is a huge change as the Petty Enterprises name won’t be a part of GMS/Legacy, Petty admitted that he was excited about the upcoming season. The change in the name was made after Jimmie Johnson joined as an owner. Petty is one of the most accomplished stock car racing drivers. He was the first to win the Cup Series championship seven times which is now tied with Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt. Petty is the most respected and notable figure in motorsports. He now can slow down for the first time in his life and do things he always wanted to.
Legacy Motor Club will feature Noah Gragson and Erik Jones as the No.42 and 43 cars, respectively. Jimmie Johnson will drive the No.84 on a limited basis. However, the Petty name is NASCAR royalty. The name has always been around in NASCAR. Going into a new season without it for the first time is quite a big deal. Although, history will never be forgotten.
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Justin P Joy
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