No. 43 Smithfield Ford Caught Up in Pocono Wreck
Aric Almirola heads to the second road course of the season looking to rebound after a difficult weekend in Pocono. Making his 200th Sprint Cup Series start, Almirola was moving forward through the field when his day ended after a two-car wreck. It was a disappointing end to the weekend, but Almirola has turned his focus to the 11 turns of Watkins Glen International. Road courses were a new challenge for Almirola when he began his NASCAR career, but he gets stronger and more confident each time he competes at both Watkins Glen and Sonoma. After a solid run in New York last year, Almirola is looking to continue his road course gains this weekend in the No. 43 Smithfield Ford.
Almirola has five previous starts at Watkins Glen. His best finish of 16th place came in the 2015 season. He earned his best starting position in 2008 when he rolled off in the 15th position.
Almirola will be stopping by the Ford Display in the Watkins Glen International Fan Zone on Sunday morning. Make sure to be there with your questions for him to answer!
When: Sunday, August 7, 11:40 – 11:55 AM
Where: Watkins Glen International Fan Zone
Almirola will visit the Turn 1 Tavern to talk with fans on Sunday morning before the big race. The Turn 1 Tavern is part of Watkins Glen’s fan hospitality, and tickets can be purchased on the tracks website.
When: Sunday, August 7, 12:00 – 12:15 PM
Where: Turn 1 Tavern
“Watkins Glen was just repaved, and I think it’s going to change how we approach the race. I think the ‘s-turns’ will be much faster, and we’ll carry a lot more speed down into the bus stop. The whole race track will have a lot more grip. I’m hopeful that it won’t become a one-lane racetrack. Over the years, Watkins Glen has become really fun to race at, and it’s provided some of the best finishes in our sport. So, I really hope those characteristics of the track stay the same and we don’t run around there fighting for every inch because it’s now a one groove race track. My team is looking forward to taking our No. 43 Smithfield Ford up there to see what we can do.”
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. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
