Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) was an American professional stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was formed in January 2009 from the merger of Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Enterprises, with former Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool F.C. owner George Gillett holding a controlling interest. Near the end of 2009, the team merged with Yates Racing and switched to Ford for 2010. In November 2010, following the Gillett family's financial difficulties, an investment group including Andrew Murstein and his Medallion Financial Corporation, Douglas Bergeron, and Richard Petty himself, purchased the team's racing assets. On 1 December 2021, GMS Racing owner Maurice Gallagher Jr. purchased a majority stake including both charters; the organisation was subsequently renamed Petty GMS Motorsports and later Legacy Motor Club.

The January 2009 merger between GEM and Petty Enterprises — which could no longer find sponsors for its cars — expanded the combined outfit to four cars. Ray Evernham was not involved in merger negotiations and retained only a minority share alongside Richard Petty. Near the end of 2009, RPM announced its departure from Dodge and a switch to Ford, tied to a merger with Yates Racing, owned by Ford head engine builder Doug Yates. Yates Racing had previously fielded successful drivers including Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, and Ricky Rudd.

By 2010, RPM's continued operation was in question after lead driver Kasey Kahne announced his departure to Red Bull Racing Team. Kahne was released with five events remaining after mechanical failures, in the midst of broader Gillett family financial woes, including George Gillett defaulting on a $90 million loan used to purchase the team. In October, RPM's cars for the second Talladega race were briefly confiscated due to payment issues with engine and equipment supplier Roush Fenway Racing; in November, four team haulers sat at Texas Motor Speedway rather than travelling to Phoenix for the same reason. The situation was resolved when Richard Petty partnered with Medallion Financial and DGB Investments to purchase the team for less than $50 million. Petty retained a one-third stake, investing several million dollars of his own. Murstein had been seeking a sports investment since 2008 when he formed a special purpose acquisition company with Hank Aaron and others. The team contracted from four cars to two after 2010, and Bergeron's share was bought out by Murstein at the end of 2014.

In 2015 RPM began fabricating its own bodies; in 2016 it began building its own chassis, reducing reliance on Roush Fenway Racing. For 2018, RPM switched its alliance from Roush Fenway Racing to Richard Childress Racing, also switching manufacturers to Chevrolet. On 1 December 2021, RPM sold a majority interest to GMS Racing for US$19 million, including both charters.

Elliott Sadler drove the No. 19 for Gillett Evernham Motorsports from 2006. In May 2008 he signed a two-year extension, but on 27 December 2008, GEM announced A.J. Allmendinger would replace him. A breach-of-contract lawsuit was settled six days later, returning Sadler to the No. 19 for 2009 alongside Allmendinger. Sadler recorded five top-ten finishes in 2009 and finished 26th in points. Stanley sponsored all 36 races in 2010; a lack of results led Sadler to announce his mid-season departure, after which the team went inactive. RPM considered reviving the No. 19 in 2012 for Clint Bowyer, but withdrew the offer in September; Bowyer signed a three-year deal with Michael Waltrip Racing for the No. 15. The number 19 was later reassigned to Humphrey Smith Racing and subsequently to Joe Gibbs Racing.

Reed Sorenson drove the No. 43 in 2009 after signing a multi-year contract with GEM. The car ran multiple sponsors including McDonald's, Valvoline, and the United States Air Force, but achieved only one top-ten finish, a ninth at the rain-shortened Daytona 500. Sorenson was released at season's end.

A.J. Allmendinger moved to the No. 43 for 2010, finishing 19th in points, and improved to 15th in 2011 with former Roush Fenway Racing crew chief Greg Erwin. Allmendinger departed for Penske Racing after Best Buy withdrew as primary sponsor.

Aric Almirola replaced Allmendinger from 2012. He earned a pole at Charlotte in May and finished 20th in points. In 2013, from Martinsville to Darlington, Almirola recorded the most consecutive top-10s in the No. 43 since Bobby Hamilton in 1996, finishing 18th in points. For 2014, RPM announced a three-year contract extension with Almirola, with Smithfield Foods stepping up to fund 29 races per season. Almirola earned his first Cup Series victory at the 2014 Coke Zero 400 after leading when rain halted the race at 112 laps, marking the No. 43's first Cup win since Petty Enterprises' victory at Martinsville in 1999 and the 30th anniversary of Richard Petty's 200th race win. Almirola said: "The good Lord was watching out for us today and we were meant to win." He qualified for the Chase but was eliminated after the Round of 16 at Dover.

In the 2017 Go Bowling 400, Almirola was caught in a wreck triggered by Joey Logano and was airlifted to hospital with a shattered T5 vertebra, missing eight to twelve races. Regan Smith substituted for the NASCAR All-Star Race, then Bubba Wallace made his Cup debut in the No. 43 until Almirola returned at New Hampshire. Ford sports car racer Billy Johnson drove the No. 43 at Sonoma. In September 2017, Almirola and Smithfield Foods left for Stewart-Haas Racing; after Petty threatened legal action, Smithfield subsidiary brands agreed to sponsor the No. 43 for part of 2018.

Bubba Wallace replaced Almirola in 2018, achieving second at the 2018 Daytona 500. At the 2019 Brickyard 400, Wallace finished third after running top ten for most of the race. On 9 November 2019, Wallace was fined $50,000 and docked 50 points for intentionally spinning his car at Texas. Wallace announced his departure from RPM in September 2020.

Erik Jones signed a multi-year contract to drive the No. 43 in 2021, recording six top-10s and finishing 24th in points.

Kasey Kahne drove the No. 9 for Evernham Motorsports from his 2004 rookie season through the GEM/Petty merger. In 2009, Kahne scored his first road course victory at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and won at Atlanta on Labor Day to qualify for the Chase, finishing 10th in points. In 2010 Kahne won the second Gatorade Duel but was knocked out of Chase contention before Richmond and was released before Martinsville; Aric Almirola replaced him for the remaining races.

Marcos Ambrose took over the No. 9 for 2011, winning his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International in August, finishing 19th in points with a then-career-high 12 top-10s. He won again at Watkins Glen in 2012. Ambrose announced in September 2014 he would not return, departing NASCAR to return to Australia and the V8 Supercar Series with DJR Team Penske.

Sam Hornish Jr. drove the No. 9 in 2015, recording only three top-tens including a best of eighth at Talladega, and finished 26th in points. Petty announced at Phoenix that Hornish would not return.

The car was renumbered No. 44 for 2016 with Brian Scott, who recorded a career-best second at Talladega in the fall before announcing his retirement for family reasons. RPM later sold the No. 44 equipment to Go FAS Racing.

RPM fielded Xfinity Series entries from 2009 to 2016. In 2011, Marcos Ambrose won at Montreal in the No. 9 Ford Mustang prepared by Roush Fenway Racing. Ambrose won again at Watkins Glen in 2014 in the No. 09. In 2016, Jeb Burton drove the No. 43 before the team was suspended after sponsor J. Streicher and Co. defaulted on its agreement.

From 2017, RPM formed an alliance with Empire Racing, owned by John Corr, centred on Richard Petty's grandson Thad Moffitt competing part-time in ARCA.

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