The hunt for a ride in the Sprint Cup Series has never been easy, especially in today’s sponsor-driven NASCAR universe. But when sponsors and drivers can come together, magic happens. Some of that special magic may be afoot for Richard Petty Motorsports, after signing Brian Scott last week.
Scott, a seven-year veteran of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has proven that consistency pays off. While the driver has never won a race in the series, he has a number of victories in the Camping World Truck Series. Spending time with Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing, one of the keys to his continued success has been a set of committed sponsors, connected to the Scott family legacy.
At the end of the 2015 season, Scott made it clear he intended to pursue a Sprint Cup Series ride for 2016, with his Xfinity Series hopes remaining in limbo. Many had theorized that he could move up to the Cup Series with Joe Falk’s Circle Sport team, where he ran a handful of races with support from RCR. However, a strong sponsorship backing from Shore Lodge, owned by his father, and Albertson’s, a company connected closely with his family, would prove attractive to any team with openings remaining, including Richard Petty Motorsports.
After a lackluster 2015 with Sam Hornish Jr. behind the wheel, RPM was in need of a fresh face that could bring sponsors to the table as well. Hornish relied on race-by-race sponsors, many of who were already in the Petty sponsor fold, or ones that were connected to co-owner Andrew Murstein’s Medallion Financial group. Add to that an average finish on the year outside of the top twenty, and a best finish of only sixth at Talladega, and Hornish was not likely to return in 2016.
A number of drivers were considered as candidates for the #9 Ford, among them NASCAR’s super substitute David Ragan, and former JR Motorsports driver Regan Smith. However, while both candidates have shown great on-track success, including wins in both the Xfinity and Cup Series, neither brought in the sponsorship necessary to fund a strong ride, leaving Brian Scott as the best man for the job.
Consistency counts in racing, and though race wins have taken on new importance in the Sprint Cup Series, Brian Scott brings the talent and sponsors necessary to find success and great accomplishment at NASCAR’s top level.
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