Thad Moffitt, grandson of Richard Petty, ready for Daytona season-opener

It is Daytona week and that means Thad Moffitt, the next generation of the Petty family, is ready to take the track in the Truck Series. Faction 46, a new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team is ready to make its debut.

The 23-year-old racer from North Carolina is ready to make his impact on NASCAR. He has spent the last few years racing a combination of ARCA, Late Model, and Trans Am races. In 2022, Moffitt raced at Daytona for Reaume Brothers Racing. He finished P18.

Will Thad Moffitt feel a little of that Petty magic when he’s on the high banks of Daytona? We will find out in just a few days.

“We just introduced this team in December and now it’s time to go race,” said Moffitt. “It is a little bit crazy to think how far we have come in such a short time. We could not have done it without Doug’s leadership and the support of Niece Motorsports and our alliance. Starting a new team is not easy, but we had a great foundation, and everyone has done their part to build a fast Silverado for Daytona.”

In his career, Moffitt has raced at Daytona a few times. His best effort came in 2020 when he finished P5. When it comes to The World Center of Racing, the young racer feels right at home, as he should. He wants to put Faction 46 in a good position.

“It may sound weird to some, but this really is a track that I’m the most comfortable at,” continued Moffitt. “I grew up here watching my grandfather (“The King” Richard Petty) and my uncle (Kyle Petty) and the rest of my family racing here. It’s just my DNA to be racing at Daytona in February. It feels good to make our debut here and start making our mark in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.”

This is going to be a big day for Thad Moffitt and Faction 46.

Thad Moffitt has his work cut out for him

The fact is, the Craftsman Truck Series can be the Wild West of NASCAR at times. No, it isn’t on the level of ARCA. Still, a mix of young drivers, older drivers, and everyone hoping for the next opportunity to present itself, it puts a lot of pressure on these teams to perform.

Faction 46 is in an alliance with Niece Motorsports, and that is great. It will allow this team to have solid equipment and be confident in their trucks. Niece put Carson Hocevar in the Championship 4 last season and will field an all-star truck in 2024 that includes Ross Chastain and Johnny Sauter.

Each week is going to be a battle. Thad Moffitt will have to assert himself but remain in control. Be aggressive, but know when to back off. Daytona is a place where everything can go right, or it can all go wrong in a split second.

Thad is carrying the Petty family torch. He will take it and attempt to light the fire that made this family famous. Can Moffitt follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a winner at Daytona?