CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Richard Petty will not be driving for the RahMoc racing team after all, published reports said today.
Petty, who has won more races than any other driver on the NASCAR Grand National circuit, announced last year that he was leaving Petty Enterprises after 25 years, turning over the family business to his son Kyle.
The Charlotte Observer said a Petty associate, who asked that his name not be made public, confirmed Petty had split with the team owned by Bob Rahilly and Butch Mock.
The same source said Petty would drive for a team headed by Mike Curb, the former California lieutenant governor.
The newspaper said Petty, 46, plans to make a statement Wednesday when the participants on Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual media tour visit the Petty Enterprises complex at Level Cross.
Petty said in late October he would leave Petty Enterprises to drive for an organization headed by Curb. Veteran Buddy Parrott would be the crew chief and the STP-backed team would be headquartered in Kannapolis.
But during the Western 500 in Riverside, Calif., in November, the Petty-RahMoc pairing was announced. Curb still was to be indirectly involved, with Parrott taking the title of team manager and STP continuing as sponsor.
The Observer said something went sour and Petty removed two Pontiacs from the RahMoc compound, returning them to Level Cross.
'However, this doesn't mean that Richard is returning to Petty Enterprises to race,' the source close to Petty said. 'Although he and Buddy Parrott will work out of those shops for awhile, it's strictly an emergency measure.'
The source said Petty and Parrott will be racing out of Kannapolis as soon as possible.
