Thad Moffitt, center, will move to a new venture with a new team for 2024. Crew chief Doug George, left, and team owner Lane Moore, right, were at the announcement. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
LEVEL CROSS – Thad Moffitt is going up another level in his racing career.
He’ll be a full-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as part of a new team, Faction46. Lane Moore, owner of Venture Food Stores, is owner of the race team.
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Moffitt said. “I’m thrilled that Lane has put his trust in me to begin this new venture with him in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Faction46. This past year, I had a full season in the Trans Am Series, but I always wanted to have the opportunity to race full-time in NASCAR and begin in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.”
Moffitt, grandson of Richard Petty, made the announcement formally during the weekend at the Petty Museum as part of a Christmas cruise-in.
Moffitt, 23, will drive the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado. His debut with the team comes Feb. 15 in the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
“I’ve enjoyed working and getting to know the Petty family and Thad,” Moore said. “It all accumulated to this day and the beginning of Faction46 and what I hope to be a long stay in NASCAR.”
Moffitt returns to NASCAR, where he competed in the ARCA Menard Series in 2021. Moffitt made four starts in the Truck Series, running the first three races of the 2022 season, and returned later that year to compete at Knoxville Raceway.
In 45 ARCA races, Moffitt turned in nine top-5 finishes. He was fourth in points in 2021.
Doug George will be crew chief for the new team, which is expected to run in the full 23-race schedule on the Craftsman Truck circuit.
“The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series offers some of the best, most exciting racing for both young and seasoned drivers,” Moore said. “I’m proud to be part of the series with Thad as we earn the respect of the other teams.”
Last year, Moffitt was part of the Trans-Am Series with the Scott Lagasse Racing team.
Moffitt’s participation comes as the Petty family marks the 75-year anniversary of its involvement in NASCAR.
Moffitt is a former Wheatmore student. He’s the son of Brian and Rebecca Petty-Moffitt.
