“STP has been a proud partner of Richard Petty for nearly 44 years now, and all of that started with this 1972 paint scheme,” said Jamie Kistner, Vice President of Marketing for STP. “To be able to bring that first year back to the track through this paint scheme and with Aric Almirola has been a lot of fun and has brought back some great memories of STP’s storied history in NASCAR for our fans. Darlington Raceway is hosting a great throwback event that’s produced a lot of excitement and we’re honored to be a part of it.”
In a storied history, Petty raced with the STP logo on the hood of his No. 43 race car for 21 years before he retired as a driver and scored 60 of his 200 wins during that time.
“It will be neat to see the car that started our partnership with STP 43 years ago back on track at Darlington,” said Petty. “It will be fun to see all the throwback schemes racing at Darlington and on Labor Day Weekend. It just feels right to have the Southern 500 back to Labor Day Weekend and is fitting that we celebrate tradition there with throwback paint schemes.”
Petty will be joined by several of his 1972 teammates at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 6. Along with crew chief Dale Inman, crew members Richie Barsz, fabricator, Tex Powell, mechanic and Jackman, Les Barsz, mechanic and transporter driver, Billy Biscoe, mechanic and gas man, Jimmy “Zoomer” Kovalchik, fabricator and tire carrier, and Barry Dodson, painter, will return to the track where they finished third in the 1972 Southern 500.
The Bojangles Southern 500 will be broadcast live on NBC on Sunday, September 6 at 7 p.m. ET.
RPM PR