Bubba Wallace may have cut his ties with Richard Petty Motorsports but he has valuable learnings during his time there.
Wallace spent four years with RPM driving the No. 43 car for the team. When the opportunity to drive for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin partnered 23XI Racing team came, Wallace decided to leave the team for this new opportunity.
He made his debut for his new team in the 2021 season-opening Daytona 500.
While Wallace might not have won a Cup race during his time with RPM, working with NASCAR legend Richard Petty and crew chief Dale Inman has certainly shaped Wallace’s early driving career, which he will look to advance with 23XI Racing.
Speaking about his learning with RPM, Wallace said:
“The racing is totally different from back then. And so you’d have to learn how to adapt to that, and both of them did it.
“Richard, for both of them being in their 80s, it is incredible how in tune they were with the racecars, with the format of the races, whatever, the ins and outs of NASCAR.
“So while it was a little difficult hearing, ‘hey this is what we tried back here in the 70s and 80s’. It’s like, well it’s a little bit different now, a little bit faster, the cars are a little different!
“But it was good to hear and understand the knowledge that they went through. And that they utilized to be the best that they can be.”
Wallace has previously admitted that leaving the familiar environment in RPM was a hard decision to make. But, driving for the 23XI Racing team was essential to progress his racing capabilities as he will be driving superior equipment with the new team.
But he will surely be thankful to have developed his racing foundation with NASCAR greats.
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