RPM to move shop after season over

Richard Petty

Richard Petty Motorsports’ will not return to the 78,000 square-foot facility it currently leases in Mooresville, N.C. After this season.

A spokesperson for RPM confirmed a listing on the Internet site LoopNet.com that has RPM’s current shop at 112 Byers Creek Rd. listed as available for lease beginning in December 2017.

“The building is up for lease at the end of the year. RPM chose not to sign the lease for next year," the statement from the RPM spokesperson told Motorsports.com

“Plans are still undecided for next year for the team, but they do know the building is too big for their needs."

There has been much speculation surrounding the future of RPM, whether it was going to continue to field one Cup team or add a second team or even merge with an existing Cup series operation.

Darrell Wallace Jr., who subbed for Almirola earlier this season when he recovered from a back injury, has been mentioned as a possible second driver if sponsorship were obtained.

The most frequent mentioned team for a possible merger has been Richard Childress Racing, sources told Motorsport.com

RPM moved into its current facility in 2014. It had previously occupied the same location in Talbert Pointe in 2007 and 2008.