By: Kelly Crandall | July 24, 2018 9:44 AM Richard Petty and Darrell Wallace Jr. did not officially announce plans for the No. 43 team next season, but both indicated Tuesday they would be remaining together.
“Yeah, Bubba will be with us again next year,” said Petty at the NASCAR Hall of Fame after unveiling Wallace’s throwback car for Darlington (pictured below). “From the standpoint that he’s still learning — he’s a rookie, a lot of these tracks he’s never been to, and we got a new car with Chevrolet.
“So, we’re trying to learn the driver and the car, and all of us [are] trying to learn together. It’s been a real learning process. Right now, we’re too slow learning. We got to speed that up.”Wallace was tabbed by the seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and his iconic organization as a replacement for Aric Almirola, who had been a constant with the team for many years. Having impressed during a substitution stint in the car last summer, Wallace is getting his full-time Cup Series. He is competing for Rookie of the Year honors. The organization made bold changes looking to improve its standing by aligning with Richard Childress Racing (and moving onto the RCR campus) as well as swapping from Ford to Chevrolet.

“We’re working on that right now,” Wallace said of his contract and 2019 plans. “It’s a positive look for us — we just started this deal, and we formed this relationship back as soon as I stepped foot on the grounds for Pocono last year. So we’re in a good spot for sure. We’re still working on all the details, but I’m excited to be where I’m at right now.”

Midway through the year, Wallace and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer have the team sitting 24th in points. Highlights for Wallace include his impressive and well-documented runner-up finish in the Daytona 500, a top 10 at Texas and driving past Brad Keselowski for the lead at Bristol.

On the flip side, Wallace has just those two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 22nd. Wallace finished 24th last weekend at New Hampshire and was 38th at Pocono earlier this year, where the series returns this weekend.In looking to keep Wallace in the fold, Petty said it was both for continuity and for the team to continue building.

“We feel like it’s going to take a little while to make it gel,” said Petty. “Hardly ever any team comes in and does really good, to begin with, it takes two or three years for everybody to sort settle in. Hopefully, we get settled in so we’re ready for next year.”

By: Kelly Crandall 9 hours ago Darrell Wallace Jr. will remain the driver of the No. 43 as Richard Petty Motorsports picked up the option on his multi-year agreement, the team has announced.Earlier this week both Wallace and Richard Petty indicated they would remain together going forward.Wallace was handpicked by the organization to replace Aric Almirola after stepping in last summer when the team needed a relief driver. In his first full season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Wallace has two top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.

Related

Harvick edges Jones in first Cup practice at Pocono

Hamlin expects to be around 'for a long time' despite rumors

Bowman finds comfort zone inside and out of the 88

“We have faith in Bubba and in our team that we’ll continue to get better, together,” said Petty. “This confirmation allows our partners to start building for next season and beyond. It also allows the different companies that we’re talking to now know that we’re very serious about building our future with Bubba as our driver.”Said Wallace, “Our highs have been well documented, and so have our lows. It’s all a part of growing together as a team with a new alliance, a new shop, a new manufacturer, a new car and being a rookie driver. It’s a wild ride, and I’m thankful to the Petty family for allowing me to be on it. Richard is competitive, and I think about winning in the ’43’ all the time. We both want the same thing, and we’re building that. Today, allows us to get this confirmed and continue to focus on the future.”