Special Tactics Airman to be Honored on Aric Almirola’s No. 43 Ford Fusion
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 23, 2016) – Richard Petty Motorsports and the U.S. Air Force are once again partnering for NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program on Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 43 Air Force Ford, will race in memory of fallen U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley with his name featured on the windshield header.
Staff Sgt. Sibley entered active duty in November 2008 and upon completion of basic training, immediately entered the two-year combat controller training pipeline. As a Special Tactics combat controller, he solved ground problems with air power for special operations missions, including surveying and setting up airfields in hostile or remote areas, controlling air traffic from anywhere and directing precision air strikes.
Deploying once to Africa and three times to Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Sibley was a ground special operator qualified in military static line, free fall, combat scuba dive and joint terminal attack control. He was killed during a deployment to Afghanistan after two individuals wearing Afghan National Defense and Security Forces uniforms opened fire at a vehicle checkpoint near Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2015. Staff Sgt. Sibley received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor and a Purple Heart for his service.
A long-time partner with the military branch, Richard Petty Motorsports will feature a U.S. Air Force primary paint scheme on the No. 43 Ford for the Coca-Cola 600. This will be the first of two race weekends of primary sponsorship for the U.S. Air Force in the 2016 season.
“It’s incredibly important that we, as Americans, continue to honor the service and sacrifice of our fallen heroes,” Col. Michael Flatten, 24th Special Operations Wing vice commander, said. “The Special Tactics Airmen we’ve lost were all exceptional warriors who not only volunteered to join our nation’s Special Operations Forces, but earned their way to the tip of the spear in defense of our nation.”
Almirola, born on Eglin Air Force Base, is deeply connected to the U.S. Air Force and understands the sacrifices made by military members and their families.
“It’s truly an honor to be able to represent the U.S. Air Force and honor Staff Sgt. Sibley on Memorial Day weekend,” said Almirola. “Our fallen men and women in the armed forces have paid the ultimate price so that we can race each weekend, and I’m glad that NASCAR has given us the opportunity to recognize their sacrifices. I’m excited to have Staff Sgt. Sibley’s family join us for the race, and hopefully, at the end of the night, they will get to celebrate with our team and the U.S. Air Force in Victory Lane.”
U.S Air Force Capt. Matthew D. Roland, a special tactics officer, was also killed in the same attack as Staff Sgt. Sibley. Seconds before the attack, he recognized the imminent threat and gave his convoy enough time to react to the insider attack with a radio call. Simultaneously, Roland knowingly put himself in the line of fire by moving the bus to protect the vehicle occupants, giving them precious time to react and neutralize both gunmen. Posthumously receiving a Silver Star for his heroic actions, Captain Roland will ride shotgun on NASCAR’s pace car for the Coca-Cola 600.
The Coca-Cola 600 will air live on FOX at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, 2016.
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, 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 with drivers Aric Almirola and Brian Scott. Almirola will return to the iconic No. 43 Ford with partners Smithfield Foods, STP, United States Air Force and the “Fresh From Florida” campaign. Scott will make his debut with the team and drive the Petty Family No. 44 Ford. Albertsons Companies, Shore Lodge, Twisted Tea and GoBowling.com will join Scott as he competes for Rookie of the Year in his first full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. Richard Petty Motorsports will also field the No. 43 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with driver Jeb Burton, who will compete in his first full-time XFINTY season with partner J. Streicher. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
