No. 43 Smithfield Ford Has Positive Momentum Leaving Loudon
With changes in the race shop and on the road, Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Smithfield team have been working hard to get the 2016 season turned around and begin preparations for next year. Coming off of a disappointing finish in Chicago, Almirola went to New Hampshire with high expectations after a strong run at the one-mile oval earlier in the year. With great pit strategy from Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer and the team’s hard work all weekend, Almirola brought the No. 43 Smithfield Ford home in the 17th position after running in the Top-15. Looking ahead as the team gets ready for Dover, Almirola is hoping that the positive momentum will catapult them to an even stronger finish at one of his favorite tracks.
When asked what track he enjoys visiting the most, Dover International Speedway is always at the top of Almirola’s list. In his nine Sprint Cup Series starts at the track, he has three Top-10 finishes, tying his best finish of fifth place in both 2015 races. He has four XFINITY Series starts at Dover and secured his best finish of ninth place in 2011. Dover is also where Almirola scored his first career Camping World Truck Series win in 2010.
Fans will have the opportunity to see both Almirola and “The King” Richard Petty when they judge a rib-eating contest at the Smithfield display in Dover International Speedway’s Fan Midway. On Sunday morning, pre-selected contestants will compete against one another to eat eight Smithfield ribs the fastest. The winner will be crowned by Almirola and Petty.
When: Sunday, October 2, 11:30 – 11:45 AM
Where: Smithfield Display, Dover International Speedway Fan Midway
“Dover is wild and crazy. It’s a really cool racetrack, and the nickname ‘The Monster’ certainly fits it well. It’s a really awesome race track; I love it. I tend to run really well there. The ride that you get inside the car is unlike any other track that we go to. The straightaway is elevated from the corner so you get a roller coaster effect going down into the corners. It’s a high-banked track with lots of speed, and just the sensation of speed at Dover is unlike anywhere else that we go. I always enjoy making the trip up there. I’m looking forward to getting our No 43 Smithfield Ford out on the track and continuing the positive steps forward that we made last week in Loudon.”
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. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
