Richard Petty Motorsports Brings Back the #44 to NASCAR

The History of the #44 in NASCAR

By Richard Tix

This week Richard Petty Motorsports officially announced that they were switching the #9 car back to the #44. It has been a few years since RPM has run the #44 so it was a refreshing site to see. It was earlier leaked that it might be happening as well, but now we know for sure.

So, with its arrival back at RPM, NASCAR Behind the Wall thought it was a good time to take a look back at some of the memorable Drivers/Cars of the #44.

Terry Labonte 1979-1986 (240 races) and 2005-2006 (19 races)

2006

2005

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1980

Kyle Petty 1997-1999 (97 races) and 2000 (17 races)

Sterling Marlin 1987-1988 (58 races)

1987

Dale Jarrett 2007-2008 (29 races)

2008

Other Names to have sat behind the #44: Buckshot Jones (37 races), AJ Allmendinger (36 races), David Reutimann (32 races), Rex White (25 races), Jim Paschal (25 races), Fred Lorenzen (3 races), Maurice Petty (3 races), David Pearson (2 races), Greg Biffle (2 races), Junior Johnson (1 race), Tim Flock (1 race), and many others.

Drivers to take #44 to Victory Lane: Terry Labonte (6 wins), Rex White (2 wins), Lloyd Dane (2 wins), Bob Welborn (1 win), Jim Paschal (1 win), and Curtis Turner (1 win).

Jim Paschal

Lloyd Dane

Buckshot Jones

Rick Wilson

AJ Allmendinger

Greg Biffle

Last but not least, the new #44 RPM car that will be driven by Brian Scott in 2016

Driver Spotlight: Aric Almirola

2014 Firecracker 400 Winner Rain or Shine

By Richard Tix

It has been awhile since NASCAR Behind the Wall has released a driver spotlight (June 10th on Dale Jr). It has been even longer since Aric Almirola had his chance to shine in the spotlight (May 12, 2013).  Last year when NBTW spotlighted Aric he had just got done pulling off four straight top 10's but the nice thing about history and statistics is we can look back at that.

Almirola finished the 2013 season off with 6 total top 10's even after pulling of four straight from race 7 to 10. Maybe I am bad luck, or maybe Almirola lost whatever he had found during that stretch but either way he was disappointing at the end of the season.

Fast forward to 2014 for the Firecracker 400 and Aric Almirola was on a 124 race win less streak. As most of you know, that win less streak was his whole career. When the race started no one was picking him to win and no one thought that 30 years after Richard Petty won his 200th and final race that the #43 would be back in victory lane. 

Stranger things have happened, but in the NASCAR world the 2014 Firecracker 400 weekend has to be up there. A day full of on and off rain postponed the race on Saturday night until Sunday at 11 am. Then on Sunday a handful of red flags, large wrecks, and a rain shortened race capped off the week. But it was Aric who was sitting in the first position when NASCAR finally called the race, putting the #43 back in VL and giving him his first Sprint Cup victory.

This season starts the beginning  of a New Era in NASCAR where one win during the first 26 races gives you an almost automatic birth into the Sprint Cup Chase. So, Aric Almirola's first Cup win came at the perfect time.

Not only will Aric make his first Chase (most likely that is. He has to stay in the top 30 in points) but he will also give Richard Petty Motorsports it's first driver into the Chase. Since Aric has already almost locked himself into the Chase it also gives RPM the shot at two cars in the Chase if Ambrose can find a win on an oval (small chance) or get back on track at Watkins Glenn where he has won twice (2011 and 2012). 

One things is for sure when it comes to Almirola in 2014; Aric could have his best season in Cup this year. Everyone know's he just notched his first win, but he also has two top 5's (career high) and 4 top 10's (tied for second in career high). He still hasn't shown huge improvement from season to season, in fact his career averages have been about the same the past three years. But, with his win at Daytona all that matters is the last 10 races of the season.

Will Aric Almirola win the 2014 Sprint Cup Title? No. But, as I have stated in my New Era article, it gives guys like him a chance to shine if only for a little while. Just think about how much more his name will be brought up when talking about the Chase later this year? In my opinion that should have some effect on sponsorship and can only be a good thing for the little teams and for NASCAR as a whole.

Pit Road Week 18: Daytona

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 18

By Richard Tix

Before the 2014 season started NASCAR made some big changes to shake up how the standings and race to the Chase would look. The big change, "win and your in." Some fans freaked out at the thought of there favorite driver winning but missing the Chase because he is the 17th winner, or worse yet, not winning and 16 other guys with a win but less points getting in.

After awhile you just come to expect some rash comments from fans when it comes to changes in NASCAR. The NASCAR community (at least on social media) doesn't seem to take change very well as a whole (not everyone is this way). So, news of a huge points change got people rattled. People clamoring for "the good ole days" and "glory years" came out in droves. The thing that gets me is that a lot of time back in "these days" drivers would come close to lapping the whole field and winning Championships 4 races before the end of the season. Yet, fans get upset when one in five races ends up being a fuel mileage race.

Yes, NASCAR had a great run in the 90's and early 2000's when it was fully booming, but that does not mean the sport is dead today. A huge peak in popularity happens in all major sports. After the boom things tend to level off but that doesn't mean that NASCAR is going to die. Its what that sport does after its regression that molds how fast it gets back to another boom. 

NASCAR is in good standing in America. Even on bad weekends when it comes to attendance tracks still bring in over 60,000 fans. What other sport can do this weekend to weekend in the USA? I for one enjoy NASCAR and the way it is today. Yes, its great to look back at the good ole days (which I also enjoyed the 90's when I first became a fan as a kid) but don't look past what is in front of you now.  Don't wait until the day you are saying "wow 2014-2024 were the good ole days," and realize you missed all the good racing while complaining about the sport. Sure, NASCAR has some problems to fix but that does not mean it is completely broken beyond repair. So enjoy it!

The greatest part of this New Era in NASCAR? Well we just got to see it at Daytona this weekend. True, it was rain shortened and a crappy race weekend (things happen and you can not stop mother nature) but a win by RPM in the #43 is something to remember. Aric Almirola is a nice guy and a class act so even in a rain shortened, crash riddled race, it was great to see him get his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup win at Daytona. So congrats Aric, now onto this weeks Power Rankings! (Note: Changes wont be too drastic as it was an odd weekend at an already wildcard type track.)

Firecracker 400 results (Coke Zero 400)

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 18 (Week 17)

1. Jeff Gordon (LW-4)- Yes, I said I wont make too many drastic changes because it was an unpredictable race that then ended in rain, but Gordon still finished 12th and I feel gets a bit of a reward for making it through mostly unscathed. 
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-1)- What a strange race for Jr. He was caught up in a few different wrecks on Sunday but still made his way back up to 14th. Not a bad finish for a forgettable race.
3. Brad Keselowski (LW-3)- BK was the first guy one lap down when the last red flag came out. He and JR were running with the leaders during this race but no one was complaining this time? That is probably because Jr was one of the guys a lap down running with them, but as Jr showed you can get back in the lead lap and have a nice finish (14th). Crazy how the difference in a driver makes the difference in opinion.
4. Clint Bowyer (LW-10)- Yes, a drastic jump but Clint finished 9th on Sunday and other then his 23rd place finish at Kentucky has been on a quiet tear. He is up to 12th in points and could be a contender this weekend at NH.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-2)- JJ finished 42nd but it wasn't his fault. Unfortunatley there will still be mini hits even in a wild card week. He should jump back up quickly.
6. Paul Menard (LW-7)- Menard wasn't really running amazing on Sunday but he managed a 16th place finish in a demo derby. He is still having his best season in his career and is up to 10th in the points standings.
7. Joey Logano (LW-8)- JoLo is another guy on a countless list of drivers moving up even though they finished 15-20th (17th to be exact). But, Daytona was a crazy weekend and these rankings got all mixed up. 
8. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- Its been a long time coming for Kurt Busch and the NASCAR Behind the Wall power rankings. He has been on the fringe for awhile now, but he definitely gets the nod after finishing 3rd on Sunday.
9. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Not much to see here, just another guy involved in the carnage that was Daytona and finished 39th.
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-6)- Last weeks big mover is this weeks big faller. That's unfortunate too, because Kasey won on Friday just to get caught up in a wreck on Sunday. Still, maybe his Nationwide win can give him extra momentum to finally get a Cup win? 
11. Marcus Ambrose (LW-NR)- One RPM driver gets the win and the other gets into the top 12 for the first time in 2014 on NASCAR Behind the Wall. 12 points out of 16th place in the Chase standings, Ambrose really needs a good showing at Watkins Glenn (probably needs the win to get in). How crazy would it be to get both RPM into the Chase?
12. Matt Kenseth (LW-9)- Hanging onto the last spot, Kenseth finished 20th on Sunday. When you look at the recent results it really is tough to justify him in the rankings, but I still am giving him a pass for another week because he is 5th in points and seems due for a win.

Dropped out: Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman

Just Missed: Denny Hamlin

Honorable Mention: Brian Vickers (2nd), Casey Mears (4th), Austin Dillon (5th), Michael McDowell (7th), Danica Patrick (8th), Marcus Ambrose (10th), Terry Labonte (11th),  and Alex Bowman (13th).


With a wreck fest and rain shortened race a lot of drivers made there way onto the Honorable Mention list. But, just because it was rain shortened does not mean these guys did not deserve the mention. Most of them all stayed out of each wreck during the day, which even when you are trailing behind isn't the easiest thing to do.

As you could guess, no one predicted Aric Almirola this week on Twitter so no shout outs for predicting the winner. This weeks leading vote getter was Dale Earnhardt Jr followed closely by Jimmie Johnson and then Kasey Kahne. Better luck next week! As always thank you for reading.

NASCAR Team Spotlight: Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty Motorsports 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

Another season went by and once again RPM was left out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. That being said, things could change in 2014 and that is all because NASCAR has changed its rules....Again. 16 drivers now get in and if you win a race in the first 26 races you are all but in the Chase. Now Aric Almirola still hasn't found his first Cup win, but Marcus Ambrose is great on road courses so it sits well with him. So, will this be the year RPM gets back into the Chase (Haven't had a driver in since Kasey Kahne in 2009)?

2013 Team Stats
Wins: 0
Top 5: 1
Top 10: 12

Marcus Ambrose

• After winning on a road course in back to back seasons (2011 and 2012) Ambrose was shut out in 2013. He went 0-2 at the two tracks he has his best shot at pulling off a win at. I would imagine in 2014 he will be extra focused on these two road course races. This season, if he wins one of the two races, he will most likely make the Chase for the first time in his career. This is also a contract year at RPM and it is unclear if he will be back with RPM in 2015.

Aric Almirola

• Aric Almirola didn't get his first win of Cup in 2013 but he did fair better than 2012. This jump wasn't as substantial as many would have liked, but his stats did get better. After the season ended he was put on the hot seat because 2014 was to be his last year under contract, but he recently was signed back on as well as Smithsfield. In 2014 he will still be looking for his first win of his career.

Previous Team Spotlight: Ganassi Racing

NASCAR Ranking the Greats (All-Time Drivers)

Top 10 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR History

Three Part Series from Different NASCAR Era's

Part One: All-Time

By Richard Tix

First of a three part series ranking the greats in NASCAR history. Part one is ranking NASCAR's all time greats from the beginning of its start until current day. (Note, it does not include active NASCAR drivers).

11. Bill Elliott (Dropped out of the Top 10 when Jeff Gordon Retired).

Races: 828
Wins: 44
Top 5: 175
Top 10: 320
Championships: 1



Million Dollar Bill is 19th in career top 5's (175) and was also the 1988 Winston Cup Championship. During his long career he was also a two time Daytona 500 winner. He made the tail end of this list not only for his career stats but because of his longevity in the sport and the fact that he was also a very popular driver (won NASCAR's most popular driver award 16 times). He has a good chance at making the NASCAR HOF this year.

10. Rusty Wallace

Races: 706
Wins: 55
Top 5: 202
Top 10: 349
Championships: 1






Rusty Wallace shows up number 9 on this list and is also a new NASCAR HOF member (2013 class). Rusty ran NASCAR full time for the first time in 1984 and finished that season as NASCAR's Rookie of the Year. He went on to win the 1989 Winston Cup Championship.

9. Ned Jarrett

Races: 352
Wins: 50
Top 5: 185
Top 10: 239
Championships: 2





Ned Jarrett has to make most fans list as a top 10 driver, but where do you place him? Ned comes in at 8 on NASCAR Behind the Wall's list. He has 50 wins, 185 top 5's, 239 top 10's all in a modest 352 races. Before Jarrett retired at the young age of 34 he had already won 2 Championships. He is also a member of the NASCAR HOF (2011 class).

8. Lee Petty

Races: 427
Wins: 54
Top 5: 231
Top 10: 332
Championships: 3




The first ever winner of the Daytona 500 has to make the top 10 right? Aside from that fact, and that he was one of the first real super stars of Stock Car racing, Lee also won 54 races, 231 top 5's, 333 top 10's, and ran in 427 career races. Lee won the Championship 3 times during his career. Side note: Being Richard Petty's father doesn't hurt his resume.

7. Darrell Waltrip

Races: 809
Wins: 84
Top 5: 276
Top 10: 390
Championships: 3





DW's spot can be debated by many. Some will say he could be higher based on his achievements but some may have him lower giving credit to guys from the past and there full impact on the sport. For the most part I am looking at a mix of stats AND impact (my opinion probably weights towards stats more, but I considered both). He can also find his spot high or low just like his career. At one time he was one of the most hated drives and then became one of the most popular. DW's stats can go on and on, but lets start with the fact that he is a 3-Time Champion and also a 3-Time runner up. He had 7 straight wins at Bristol Motor Speedway (12 total). DW won 84 career Cup races (Tied for 4th most with Bobby Allison). He also had 276 top 5's, 390 top 10's, 59 Poles (2nd all time), and ran 809 career races. To top it off he won the Daytona 500 in 1989 and is in the NASCAR HOF (2012 class).

6. Bobby Allison

Races: 718
Wins: 84
Top 5: 336
Top 10: 446
Championships: 1




2011 HOF inductee Bobby Allison comes in number 5 and could have been higher if he had won at least one more Championship. However, you still have to look at his career and respect what he did. Allison won the Winston Cup Championship in 1983 and was also a 3 time Daytona 500 winner. He is "tied" with DW for the fourth most wins in NASCAR history with 84 (this is debated, as he could have a win or two more). He was also a 7 time Most Popular Driver.

5. Cale Yarborough

Races: 562
Wins: 83
Top 5: 255
Top 10: 319
Championships: 3


If you have any question about Cale, you just have to look at his three title run from 1976-78. 3 straight is something not many have done, not Richard Petty, not Dale Earnhardt, only Jimmie Johnson has done it.  He is a four time Daytona 500 winner and is 6th in all time wins with 83 total. If you only count drivers with 500 career races he is second in win percentage (14.82%), 9th among all drivers.

4. David Pearson

Races: 574
Wins: 105
Top 5: 301
Top 10: 366
Championships: 3





When we get to the top 3 we find a couple "what could haves" that will forever riddle someone trying to rank NASCAR's greats, the first is David Pearson. He only ran three season's in NASCAR's top level in his career and he won the Championship in all three. If that isn't enough, he finished 3rd in the standings during a season he only ran 19 of 30 races (1974). He is second all time in wins with 84, had 301 top 5's (4th), 366 top 10's (9th) and he did it all in 574 races. He has one of the best winning percentages of any NASCAR driver including being better then Petty, DW, and Dale. Just how many Titles could he have won?

3. Jeff Gordon

Races: 797
Wins: 93
Top 5: 325
Top 10: 475
Championships: 4





When I originally released these rankings Gordon didn't appear on them, why? Well he was still active. Now, Jeff Gordon qualifies and boy did he come from off the board to a nice spot on the All-Time Rankings. Jeff Gordon changed NASCAR in more ways then just one. Not only was he a very successful driver (Third in all time wins with 93 and has 4 career Championships), but he also was a major factor in NASCAR going main stream. Gordon opened up a whole new world of where drivers could come from and also where NASCAR's fan base was from. If it not for the Chase Gordon would have probably had a few more Championships and possibly even pushed his name up higher on this list. Either way, Gordon had one of the best NASCAR careers on and off the track.

2. Dale Earnhardt

Races: 676
Wins: 76
Top 5: 281
Top 10: 428
Championships: 7




The Intimadator, he is still one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR even though he passed away much too young. When you think of NASCAR you think of the black three. If you need more then just the impact he had on the sport, you can take a glimpse at his stats as well. He had 76 total wins, 281 top 5's (5th), and 428 top 10's (5th). He is tied with Richard Petty with 7 Winston Cup Championships. Many believe he was destined to win a NASCAR leading 8th Championship before he was taken from the NASCAR world too early and left many wondering what if.

1. Richard Petty

Races: 1185
Wins: 200
Top 5: 555
Top 10: 712
Championships: 7




Most fans have different top 10's, but almost all of them have either Dale or Petty as number one. The Kings 200 wins will never be touched (never say never, but they just ran way more races then, and he ran too well). He is tied with Dale with 7 Championships and is also a 7-Time Daytona 500 winner. Even though he ran 1,185 career races he still had a very high winning percentage of 16.9%. In his career he has 555 top 5's  (1st) and 712 top 10's (1st). When you think NASCAR there is no way you don't think of Petty pretty close to right away. Want more? Check out NASCAR Behind the Wall's Birthday article, Birthday Fit for a King.


Just missing the list: Junior Johnson, Terry Labante, Fireball Roberts, and Dale Jarrett.

So where do Modern Era Drivers fit into the equation? Part Two is Modern Era (1972-Present) Greatest NASCAR Drivers of All-Time. Three Parts in Three days during Media Week and leading up to the HOF induction. Check back for Part Two!