Jerry Baxter has been hired by Richard Petty Motorsports to replace Derek Stamets as Darrell Wallace Jr.’s crew chief on the #43 team in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2020. Baxter’s pairing with Wallace is a reunion for driver and crew chief, as Baxter was Wallace’s crew chief in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series in 2013 and 2014.
“He has been a great mentor, and even better friend, since we were able to work together in 2013 and 2014,” Wallace said of Baxter. “I am excited to see him get this opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series and use our past success to take this team to new levels.”
With Baxter atop his pit box, Wallace won five Truck Series races.
“During our time together, he trusted what I did as a crew chief, and trusted himself more and more, and we got better and better as we went,” Baxter said. “This is an incredible opportunity, and change is good. Having the confidence of Bubba and everyone at Richard Petty Motorsports means a lot to me. I am excited about working with Bubba again and the foundation Richard Petty Motorsports has in place with their group of guys.”
Baxter has experience as a crew chief in all three of NASCAR’s national series, but most of that experience came in the Truck and Xfinity Series. he has 12 races of experience in the Cup Series, most recently in 2000. He has 15 Truck Series wins and one in the Xfinity Series. with nearly 200 starts in each of those series.
Wallace has been a full-time Cup Series driver for two seasons. In 2019, he finished 28th in the driver points standings with a single top-10 finish [third in the Brickyard 400] in 36 races.
“The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season is a crucial year for Richard Petty Motorsports,” Wallace said. “As a team, we have made a ton of progress from my debut in 2018, and we are looking to continue that progress with Jerry calling the shots.”
