CONCORD, N.C. - Smithfield Foods returns as primary sponsor of the No. 43 Ford as Aric Almirola and his Richard Petty Motorsports team prepare to go road-course racing at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. And the Petty blue-and-black Smithfield paint scheme that hits the 2.45-mile road course will be no ordinary design.
The No. 43 scheme for Sunday’s Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen was created by long-time Petty fan and graphic designer Kevin Gates. Gates sent a sketch to Smithfield earlier this season on a whim and, much to his surprise and delight, learned the race team’s partner was going to update its scheme to reflect his design. The Gates-designed scheme also ran at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the All-Star race in May.
The race on the 2.45-mile, seven-turn course will be the second road race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Almirola has one previous Sprint Cup start at Watkins Glen – a 35th-place finish in 2008. He also has an eighth-place finish ...
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