With three top-10s (2012, 2011, 2009) at the half-mile track, Annett has come close to scoring his first top-five at “The Last Great Colosseum.” In eight starts, his average finish is 14.4, his best start of 13th came in the summer of 2009 and his best finish of sixth came in the summer of 2011. Annett, with the help of the No. 43 team, will go for his eighth career top-five finish in the NNS.
As if the excitement of Bristol isn’t enough, Jack Link’s will make its debut on the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford this weekend. Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is perfect for the race fan looking to “Feed their Wild Side.” It is high in protein and low in fat, which makes it the perfect, on-the-go snack. Fans can stock up right now at Pilot Flying J stores as Jack Link’s Jerky and Tender Bites 3.25oz. bags are on sale – buy one bag at regular price, get the second for just $3. A great deal for a great snack at the track.
Comments from the No. 43 Pilot Travel Centers Jack Link’s Ford Mustang driver Michael Annett:
“I think everyone looks forward to the night race at Bristol. The fans love it, and it always turns out to be a good race. I didn’t get to race there are the beginning of the year, so I’m ready to strap in and see what our team can do. I’ve gotten pretty close to a top-five there several times and I think we can pull one off this weekend.
“Pilot Flying J has some pretty great partners that have been on the car this year and in past years, this weekend Jack Link’s will be on the car for the first time. It will be fun to have them at the track and show them what it’s like to be a part of Richard Petty Motorsports. Hopefully, we will have a strong showing for them. The rest of the competition better watch out for the Sasquatch coming through the field on Friday night.”
Comments from Crew Chief Philippe Lopez on Bristol:
“A lot of people don’t like Bristol because of all of the carnage, but I like Bristol. A lot of people will bring their worst car to Bristol because they just know they’re going to wreck, but I feel like you bring your best stuff and you have your driver drive a smart race and you will finish well. It’s entertaining for the fans, there’s a lot of energy and there’s not a bad seat in the house. If you have a fast car and can qualify well, it’s a lot easier to maintain position so you can race at the end. Track position and keeping the nose clean will be key, and then once you get to the last 50 laps, you can let er’ rip. It should be a good night.”
“The March Bristol race was pretty much the way we ran the car last year for both races. We were having a very good race with Reed (Sorenson) and then got caught up in a late wreck. I don’t anticipate doing anything different because of the way the day is set up; everything is really quick because it’s a one-day show. We’ll unload the way we were and tweak on it a bit, but I’m anticipating being pretty close to where we need to be when we unload.”
Chassis History:
Lopez and the Pilot Travel Centers Jack Link’s team have prepared chassis number 703 for Bristol. This chassis was previously run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway earlier this year.
About Jack Link’s Beef Jerky – Feed Your Wild Side
Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is a story of family traditions that started and continues to flourish in Minong, Wisconsin. The company began with treasured family recipes, passed from generation to generation, that transformed a small North Woods business into the fastest-growing meat snack manufacturer in the world. The Jack Link’s brand has developed a heritage of quality and consumer trust; consumers know them well for their iconic Messin’ With Sasquatch advertising campaign. Through the years, they discovered there is a wild side in everyone, so their products and advertising campaign fuel adventurous spirits. Through their passion for making the highest quality meat snacks in the widest varieties, they offer more than 100 premium meat snack products at retail outlets in more than 40 countries. Check out JackLinks.com for more information on the brand.
About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneurs Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.
NEXT RACE:
Food City 250
Bristol Motor Speedway
Friday, August 23rd, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: PRN/SIRIUSXM 90
Qualifying:
Friday, August 23rd, 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: FoxSports1
FOLLOW RPM:
QUICK LINKS
RichardPettyMotorsports.com
PilotFlyingJ.com
