Bubba Wallace will not return to Richard Petty Motorsports in 2021, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic first reported on Thursday (Sept. 10). Wallace is currently in his third full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, all having driven the No. 43 Chevrolet.
Richard Petty Motorsports confirmed the news.
“Earlier this morning, Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr., informed Richard Petty Motorsports he will not be returning for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season,” the team said in a statement. “We will complete the season with Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. We look forward to the next chapter in the making for the iconic No. 43 team. We will announce our new driver in the near future.”
The 26-year-old also released a statement.
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) September 10, 2020
Wallace, currently NASCAR’s lone full-time Black driver, has reportedly spoken with other teams, including the Chip Ganassi Racing for its No. 42 Chevrolet for next year.
It’s also been my understanding for several weeks that Ganassi rescinded his offer when he received no answer.
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) September 10, 2020
This season, Wallace has one top five and five top 10s. His season-best finish of fifth came in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 29. He is currently 23rd in the championship standings.
Overall, in 103 career Cup Series starts, Wallace has three top fives and nine top-10 finishes. He earned his career-best finish of second place in the 2018 Daytona 500 at Daytona.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.