Petty Enterprizes

Petty Enterprizes. In 2008 they bought Evernham Motorsports.

## Car No.42 History

### Lee Petty (1949-1961)

Founded as **Lee Petty Engineering**, Lee Petty brought Petty Enterprises their first starts, the first of these at Occoneechee Speedway, where Petty finished ninth. The team's first win came that year in Lee's fifth start at Heidelberg Raceway, with Petty and the team finishing 2nd in points that season. Petty won one race in each of the years 1950 and 1951, before collecting three victories in 1952. Lee grabbed five wins in 1953 and finished second in points before winning the championship in 1954. He followed that with six wins the next season and two more the following year, making him one of the most dominating drivers in the series at that time. In 1957, Petty won four races as the team began running additional teams. Petty would accumulate a total of 54 career wins, one of them being the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, and three national championships. But during the 100 Mile Qualifying Races for the 1961 Daytona 500, Petty was involved in a horrific crash with Johnny Beauchamp, this would hospitalize both drivers, and Petty would only make a handful of starts between 1962 and 1965.

Lee's sons, Richard and Maurice Petty, would also make a few starts in their father's cars in the early part of their careers. Several other drivers raced a handful of times in the No. 42, including Marvin Panch, Paul Lewis, Tiny Lund, G.C. Spencer, and Dan Gurney.

### Kyle Petty (1979-1984)

The year of 1979 saw Richard's son, Kyle Petty, start his career winning the very first race he entered - the Arca 200 at Daytona International Speedway, Petty drove five cup races for PE in 1979.

In 1983, the No. 42 became the #7 due to Kyle Petty's 7-Eleven-sponsorship. Kyle earned eight Top 5's, but no wins during that stretch. Petty left to drive for the Wood Brothers in 1985, taking the sponsor with him and causing the team to shut down.

## Car No.43 History

### Pre-Richard Petty Years (1954-1958)

Believed to be one of the most recognizable numbers in motorsports, the No. 43 team debuted in 1954, when Lee Petty expanded to a two car team and put Bob Welborn in the driver's seat. Welborn competed in two races that season; West Palm Beach and Savannah, finishing 11th and 20th, respectively. The #43 would not return with Petty Enterprises until 1957, this time with Bill Lutz behind the wheel. Lutz drove his Oldsmobile to a 6th-place finish at Daytona Beach. The 43 car would once again take a break from competition until 1959, when Lee placed his son Richard in the car.

### Richard Petty (1959-1992)

Richard made ten starts in 1959, accumulating five top tens, and four top fives making him the 1959 Rookie of the Year. Petty returned in 1960, making forty starts, with three wins, sixteen top fives, and thirty top tens. He finished second in NASCAR Grand National Series points, scoring his first career win at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway. Petty scored ten wins throughout 1961 and 1962, finishing eighth and second in championship standings. Although he had tremendous success early in his career, his true breakout year was 1963. In '63, Petty scored fourteen wins, thirty top fives, thirty-nine top tens, and eight poles. However, he still fell short of the championship, finishing second to Joe Weatherly.

### Rick Wilson (1993)

After Richard Petty's retirement, the No. 43 was renumbered as the No. 44 and Rick Wilson was signed to drive for 1993. Wilson struggled, only placing in the top 10 once at Sonoma, and was released at the end of the season.

### Wally Dallenbach Jr. & John Andretti (1994)

In 1994, the car was changed back to the King's famous number 43, and Wally Dallenbach Jr. was hired as the driver. Dallenbach tallied three top 10's and one top 5, but struggled to qualify races. He was replaced mid-season by John Andretti.

### Bobby Hamilton (1995-1997)

For 1995, 1991 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Bobby Hamilton was hired to drive. Hamilton would score four top fives, and scored his first win with the team the following year at Phoenix, this would be Petty Enterprises first win since 1983. In 1997 Hamilton won at Rockingham, but left the team at the end of the season to drive for Morgan-McClure Racing.

### John Andretti (1998-2003)

In 1998, journeyman John Andretti was hired and he gave the team three Top 5's in his first year, and another win at Martinsville the following. This would ultimately be the final win for Petty Enterprises. In 2000, Andretti began to struggle and he only scored two Top 10's. The next year, he did score one Top 5 at Bristol.

### Johnny Benson, Jr. (2004)

After Andretti was relaxed from Petty Enterprises following 2003, Johnny Benson, Jr. replaced Andretti. Benson however only one top ten at Martinsville and finished the year 30th. He was then released and was replaced by Ricky Craven.

### Ricky Craven (2005)

Craven drove the 43 in 2005, but had no top tens and only had nine top twenties. He was released from the team after 2005.

### 2000

1. John Andretti - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45

### 2001

1. John Andretti - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty **(R)** - 45
4. Buckshot Jones **(R)** - 54

### 2002

1. John Andretti - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Buckshot Jones - 54

### 2003

1. John Andretti (14), Christian Fittipaldi **(R)** (11), Jeff Green (11) - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi **(R)** (5) Shane Hmeil (1), Scott Maxwell (1) - 54

### 2004

1. Jeff Green - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54 **(R)**

### 2005

1. Jeff Green - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54

### 2006

1. Bobby Labonte - 43
2. Kyle Petty - 44
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54

### 2007

1. Bobby Labonte - 43
2. Adam Petty - 45
3. Kyle Petty (29), Chad McCumbee (2), John Andretti (4), Christian Fittipaldi (1) - 54

### 2008

1. Bobby Labonte - 43
2. Adam Petty - 45
3. Kyle Petty (18), Chad McCumbee (19) - 54

### 2009

1. Kasey Kahne - 9
2. Scott Speed - 10
3. Elliott Sadler - 19
4. Reed Sorenson - 43
5. Chad McCumbee **(R)** - 44
6. Adam Petty - 45

### 2010

1. Kasey Kahne - 9
2. Scott Speed - 10
3. Elliott Sadler - 19
4. Reed Sorenson - 43
5. Chad McCumbee - 44
6. Adam Petty - 45

### 2011

1. Marcos Ambrose - 9
2. Scott Speed - 43
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Fittipaldi/Almirola - 54

### 2012

1. Marcos Ambrose - 9
2. Aric Almirola - 43
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54

### 2013

1. Marcos Ambrose - 9
2. Aric Almirola -43
3. Cal Naughton Jr. - 44
4. Adam Petty - 45

### 2014

1. Marcos Ambrose - 9
2. Aric Almirola - 43
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54

### 2015

1. Marcos Ambrose - 9
2. Aric Almirola - 43
3. Adam Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi - 54

### 2016

1. Brian Scott - 9
2. Aric Almirola - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45
4. Christian Fittipaldi

### 2017

1. Brian Scott - 9
2. Aric/Bubba - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45
4. Regan Smith - 54

### 2018

1. Brian Scott - 9
2. Bubba Wallace - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45
4. Regan Smith - 54

### 2019

1. Brian Scott - 9
2. Bubba Wallace - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45
4. Regan Smith - 54

### 2020

1. Brian Scott - 9
2. Bubba Wallace - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45
4. Regan Smith - 54

### 2021

1. John Hunter Nemechek - 9
2. Ty Dillon - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45

### 2022

1. John Hunter Nemechek - 9
2. Ty Dillon - 43
3. Samuel Petty - 45

REST TBA At A Later Date.