Look: Legendary NASCAR Star Richard Petty Not Happy
MADISON, ILLINOIS - JUNE 03: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty prepares to drive a replica of his #43 STP Pontiac during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on June 03, 2022 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
From 2009 to 2021, NASCAR legend Richard Petty was the primary owner and operator of Richard Petty Motorsports. But ever since his company was bought out and rebranded, he's had to adapt to some changes - much to his chagrin.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Petty admitted that Legacy Motor Club runs a little differently now that Jimmie Johnson is the primary owner and power holder. He said that while he gets to stay involved in the racing side and agrees with Johnson about 50-percent of the time, he still finds Johnson's way of doing things very different from his own.
"It’s been strange to me," Petty said, via the Associated Press. "Most of the time, I ran the majority of the show. Jimmie brought all his people in. His way of running things and my way of running things are probably a little bit different. We probably agree on about 50-percent of what it really comes down to."
"They don’t take over the racing part, they take over the front office," Petty said. "With sponsorships, appearances and all that stuff, Jimmie’s crowd is kind of controlling that. That’s something I never had to put up with, I guess."
But there's little denying that the change has been an improvement. No. 43 driver Erik Jones immediately went from 24th to 19th and won his first race in a Chevy after the 2022 takeover.
The 2023 season will see Jones team up with rookie Noah Gragson with Johnson serving as a part-time driver for Legacy Motor Club.
Expectations will be high for the team that Richard Petty once called his own.
Perhaps a few wins will make him feel better.
