Aric Almirola to run No. 41 tribute car at Martinsville

(NASCAR for Getty Images)

Aric Almirola won't be in the No. 43 car at Martinsville, but it's not because he's lost his ride or Richard Petty Motorsports is abandoning the iconic 43.

The team announced Tuesday that Almirola would drive the No. 41 in honor of Maurice Petty, Richard's brother, who is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January. Maurice was the engine builder for Petty Enterprises, but also had a career as a driver and drove the No. 41. His father Lee drove the No. 42 and Richard, of course, drove the No. 43.

It's the first time since October of 2003 when Jeff Green failed to qualify at Atlanta that the No. 43 has not been in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. (For owner's points purposes, the No. 43 will get all the points accrued by the No. 41 on Sunday.)

Earlier Tuesday, the team also announced that crew chief Todd Parrott, who was suspended last week by NASCAR for a violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy, was no longer with the team. Parrott is starting NASCAR's Road to Recovery program.

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