Brings STP Colors Back to Famed No. 43, Has Momentum After First Top-10
CONCORD, N.C. (April 16, 2013) – Coming off the team’s first top-10 of the season, Aric Almirola looks forward to making his first stop at Kansas Speedway this season for the STP 400. He and the No. 43 STP Ford team led 69 laps at the 1.5-mile track last fall, a career-best for Almirola. Sporting classic Petty Blue and STP colors, Almirola and team will look for redemption in the 400-mile race.
Almirola has two Sprint Cup starts at Kansas Speedway, both in 2012. Last fall, he started fifth and raced into the lead in his sixth race with crew chief Todd Parrott. The No. 43 STP Ford team hopes to get the No. 43 back to victory lane for the first time since 1999 when John Andretti brought home the win with STP on the hood.
Richard Petty, a long-time partner of STP, will be the Grand Marshall for the STP 400. He will give his drivers Almirola and Marcos Ambrose, as well as the rest of the Sprint Cup Series field, the command to start their engines on Sunday.
Richard Petty Motorsports sends their thoughts and prayers to those affected by the events in Boston on Monday.
Richard Petty, Aric Almirola, Farmland Foods and Harvesters Raise Awareness About Hunger in Kansas City
Farmland Foods will present a cash and protein donation to Harvesters-The Community Food Network at the Kansas Speedway as part of an expanding effort by the company to raise awareness of hunger issues around the country. Â The announcement follows more than $60,000 in donations in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Fontana, Calif., earlier this year as part of Farmland’s partnership with Harvesters to promote hunger awareness in race communities. Richard Petty and driver Aric Almirola will be on hand to support hunger awareness efforts. The donation will be announced at the Kansas Speedway at 9:30 a.m. at the media center, followed by interview and photo opportunities.
Comments from STP Ford Fusion Driver Aric Almirola:
“Like everyone right now, we’re thinking about those affected by the events in Boston. We’re all united as race fans, but when something like this happens, we’re all united as Americans first and pray for those involved.
“I’ve been looking forward to Kansas since last October when we left there. We were so good last fall – to have it all taken away with some blown tires really stung. We have good momentum from last week’s top-10 and obviously will be looking for redemption at Kansas. It’s also a really big weekend with old school STP colors on the car and racing at Farmland’s home track. If the car is as fast as it looks, we will be really good this weekend.
“I really like the track. Last fall was the first time we raced on the new pavement, and we were really fast. We still feel really good about our mile-and-a-half program, especially after last weekend’s qualifying and race effort. Hopefully we can bring the No. 43 back to victory lane this weekend.”
Comments from STP Ford Fusion Crew Chief Todd Parrott:
“We feel really confident going into this weekend’s STP 400. Our car was really fast last year and that gives you more confidence going into the weekend. Not to mention, our top-10 finish at the same size track last weekend. Our team has been really consistent this year, and now, we just need to get back to victory lane.”
Chassis History:
The No. 43 team has prepared chassis No. 848 for Kansas. This will be the first time the team runs the new chassis.
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:
STP 400
Kansas Speedway
Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN/SiriusXM 90
Qualifying:
Friday, April 19, 4:40 p.m. ET
TV: SPEED
QUICK LINKS:
RichardPettyMotorsports.com
AricAlmirola.com
STP.com
