Bubba Wallace Will Not Return To Richard Petty Motorsports In 2021

The Athletic is reporting Bubba Wallace has made the decision to not return as a Richard Petty Motorsports driver in 2021. Wallace has reportedly been in talks with other teams about openings in 2021 and Chip Ganassi Racing is one of those teams. Ganassi Racing in 2021 consists of Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth.

The likely spot for Wallace, if he signs with Ganassi, is to land in Kenseth's No. 42 car. "I would say that it's probably more than likely I will not be racing again next year," Kenseth, 48, said this week on SiriusXM's NASCAR Radio. Kenseth is currently 27th in NASCAR's standings; Wallace is 23rd.

Don't think for a second NASCAR's not aware of the storylines it can promote in 2021 with Wallace in a No. 42 car that was driven by Kyle Larson before he was fired for using the n-word during a virtual race.

In August, Richard Petty Motorsports reportedly offered Wallace a big raise and an ownership stake to stay with the organization, but a rising profile within the sport due to what transpired during the first half of the NASCAR season saw Wallace thinking bigger than RPM, which has struggled financially for years.

TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - JUNE 22: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, and NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty look on after NASCAR drivers pushed Wallace to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on June 22, 2020 in Talladega, Alabama. A noose was found in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway a week after the organization banned the Confederate flag at its facilities. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)