Thanks for posting to keep it open until I got home, Chris. Interesting perspective.
Dad called while I was on the road for work this week. Apparently while my uncle had to tear down the engine. During the rebuild some folks caught wind and a few race companies (don't have exact info on who at this time) are involved in the rebuild or heard of it and are intrigued. The engine isn't listed anywhere and doesn't have a serial number but certain parts have certain codes on them and these folks are trying to find the original owner/NASCAR driver.
Four race teams/companies, whomever they may be, want to meet Tim personally when he runs his car at Gainesville Nationals in the spring. He thinks they may want to buy the engine.
The coolest part is the phone call he received. Richard Petty himself apparently has reason to believe that particular engine may have ties to him and wants to meet him, see the engine, and see the car. Tim told dad that once things are set he wants to fly dad down for the meetings. I didn't know it at the time I made this post but the car was purchased just 20 minutes from Petty's residence they found out while conversing.
Anyway, that's the way I heard it.