Richard Petty Motorsports and its partner Smithfield Foods announced that the Petty Blue tradition and heritage will return for the majority of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season in 2013. Smithfield Foods, and its family of brands including Eckrich, Farmland, Gwaltney and Smithfield, will showcase the historic color on the #43 Ford driven by Aric Almirola in 24 races this season. It will be the first time in over 40 years that the Petty Blue color will be primarily featured on the #43 for nearly the entire race schedule. The color, introduced by the Petty family and then made famous by ‘The King” Richard Petty, has come to define the winning tradition and heritage of the Petty family and the famed #43. The legions of Petty race fans have long waited for the return of the famous Petty Blue paint scheme. Smithfield Foods is proud to return the tradition and winning heritage back to the track. The first Petty Blue scheme will adorn the #43 this weekend when Almirola will race the Famland Ford at the Phoenix International Raceway. This car, along with the Eckrich and Smithfield (Gwaltney) Ford were unveiled Wednesday by team owner Richard Petty and Smithfield Director of Public Affairs, Dennis Pittman. Also this weekend, Almirola will make his return to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition for the first time since competing full-time in 2011 when he finished fourth in the point standings. Almirola will substitute for Michael Annett, who was injured in a crash at Daytona, in the #43 Flying J Ford at Phoenix.( RPM ), see images of the cars on the #43 Team Schemes page .
