Richard Petty's Grandson Gets Full-Time Seat in Trans Am Series

Thad Moffitt, grandson of NASCAR racing great Richard Petty, is taking his driving talents to the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli in 2023.

Moffitt, 22, was announced on Thursday at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show as driver of the Safety-Kleen Chevrolet Carmaro for TeamSLR next season. TeamSLR races out of St. Augustine, Florida, with support from Petty's garage in Randleman, N.C.

Moffit, to no one's surprise, will drive the No. 43—a number made famous in racing by grandfather Richard Petty. Moffitt comes to Trans Am via the ARCA Menards Series, where he's made 49 starts between 2017 and 2022 between the National, East and West divisions. He finished fourth in the ARCA national championship standings in 2021.

Moffitt also made four starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series his year, finishing a season-best 18th out of 34 cars in the season-opening race at Daytona.

“I can’t wait to join the Trans Am Series in 2023,” said Moffitt, who was champion of the 2016 Southeast Limited Late Model champion. “The TA2 class is one of the most competitive places to race in all of motorsports, and it will be great to have a chance to race against the huge fields that include champions like Rafa Matos, Mike Skeen and Thomas Merrill. The series races at some of the most historic tracks in the country, with high-profile events like the Music City Grand Prix and Detroit Grand Prix; I am so grateful to have this opportunity.”

Moffitt’s grandfather Petty drove a Plymouth Barracuda for Team Starfish in the fourth ever Trans Am race in history at Virginia International Raceway in July of 1966, starting fourth and finishing eighth in the Over 2.0 Liter class.

“I am so proud that Thad is going to be running in the Trans Am Series next year,” said Petty. “I think it is a wonderful opportunity for him to drive in such a competitive series and learn road racing. I love that we’re able to bring the No. 43 to Trans Am, and it will be so special to see a member of our family race that Petty blue Camaro. I am very appreciative to Safety-Kleen for helping make this possible through our continued partnership.”

Moffitt will make his Trans Am debut for TeamSLR co-owners Scott Lagasse and Scott Lagasse Jr. when the 2023 season kicks off at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway on February 23-26.

“We’ve been very impressed with Thad’s work ethic and his desire to compete,” said Scott Lagasse, Jr., himself a veteran of the NASCAR Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. “TA2 is a great place to learn race craft, and with more and more NASCAR races on road and street courses, it’s an excellent way for drivers to increase their versatility. You can hustle a TA2 car for an entire race, just like qualifying laps. Trans Am is growing and it gets more competitive each year. There are a lot of great racers and it takes a lot to win each race.”