WELCOME, N.C. – Bubba Wallace has confirmed he will not return to Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.
In a statement posted to his personal Twitter account, Wallace confirmed his departure from the team. He went on to thank team owner Richard Petty and the team for the opportunity to drive the No. 43 Chevrolet at NASCAR’s top level.
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) September 10, 2020
Richard Petty Motorsports also issued a statement, stating that they plan to announce the team’s new driver in the near future.
“Earlier this morning, Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr., informed Richard Petty Motorsports he will not be returning for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season 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.”
Wallace made his debut with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2017, competing in four races as a substitute for Aric Almirola while Almirola recovered from injuries suffered in a crash at Kansas Speedway.
The native of Mobile, Ala., impressed the team enough to earn a full-time contract in 2018. He opened his rookie NASCAR Cup Series campaign with a runner-up finish in the 2018 Daytona 500.
In 103 NASCAR Cup Series starts with Richard Petty Motorsports, Wallace has scored three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
This year Wallace has also emerged as a voice for change in NASCAR. As the sport’s only African-American driver, Wallace called for the banning of the confederate flag at NASCAR events. Shortly after Wallace’s call for action, NASCAR responded by banning the confederate flag. Wallace also drove a Black Lives Matter car during an event at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on June 10.