The 43 drivers to race the No. 43 car

In 1949, the first season of the Strictly Stock series now known as the Sprint Cup Series, Jack Russell finished 42nd at Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Speedway in the fourth race of the season on September 11. The No. 43 car first raced for Petty Enterprises on February 7, 1954 when Bob Welborn finished 11th at Palm Beach Speedway in South Florida.



Six drivers have accounted for 199 wins with the number, second most all time behind the 204 victories by the No. 11. Those drivers are Aric Almirola, John Andretti, Bobby Hamilton, Jim Paschal, Lee Petty and Richard Petty.



Here is a chronological history of the drivers who have run the No. 43 along with their starts and wins.



1949
1) Jack Russell (3 starts)

1950
2) Shorty York (2 starts)

1951
3) Paul Newkirk (2 starts)
4) Billy Tibbett (1 start)

1952
5) Larry Mann (5 starts)
Paul Newkirk

1953
6) Ray Duhigg (1 start)
7) Jimmie Lewallen (4 starts)
8) Jim Paschal (12 starts and 2 wins)

1954
9) Whitey Brainerd (2 starts)
10) Billy Irvin (3 starts)
11) Danny Letner (1 start)
12) Bob Welborn (3)

1955
13) Slim Brown (1 start)
14) George Gregory (1 start)
15) Possum Jones (1 start)

1956
16) Len Fraker (1 start)
17) Louis Headley (1 start)
18) Bob Ross (7 starts)
Shorty York

1957
19) Bill Lutz (1 start)
20) Ken Marriott (1 start)
21) Howard Phillippi (1 start)
Bob Ross

1958
22) Bill Mitchell (1 start)
23) Jim Reed (1 start)
Bob Ross

1959
24) Bill Jarlick (2 starts)
25) Lee Petty (2 starts and 1 win)
26) Richard Petty (1,125 starts)

1960
Richard Petty
Bob Ross

1961
27) Joe Clark (1 start)
28) Maurice Petty (4 starts)
Richard Petty

1962
Maurice Petty
Richard Petty

1963
29) Jimmy Massey (2 starts)
Jim Paschal
Maurice Petty
Richard Petty

1964
Jim Paschal
Richard Petty

1965
Jim Paschal
Richard Petty
30) Fritz Wilson (1 start)
31) LeeRoy Yarbrough (1 start)

1966
32) Darel Dieringer (1 start)
Jim Paschal
Richard Petty

1967-1969
Richard Petty

1970
Jim Paschal
Richard Petty

1971
Richard Petty
33) Ernie Shaw (1 start)

1972-1980
Richard Petty

1981
34) Kyle Petty (1 start)
Richard Petty

1982-1992
Richard Petty

1993
None

1994
35) John Andretti (197 starts and 1 win)
36) Wally Dallenbach Jr.

1995-1997
37) Bobby Hamilton (94 starts and 2 wins)

1998-2002
John Andretti

2003
John Andretti
38) Christian Fittipaldi (10 starts)
39) Jeff Green (80 starts)


2004-2005
Jeff Green

2006-2008
40) Bobby Labonte (108 starts)

2009
41) Reed Sorenson (36 starts)

2010-2011
42) AJ Allmendinger (72 starts)

2012-present
43) Aric Almirola (89 starts and 1 win)


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