Almirola will pilot patriotic car for two holiday race weekends
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The U.S. Air Force is joining forces with Richard Petty Motorsports for the seventh consecutive season as a primary sponsor for two races on Aric Almirola's No. 43 Ford in the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season.
Almirola will carry the Air Force logo for the two most patriotic race weekends of the season: Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 (Sunday, May 24, 6 p.m. ET, FOX) and Fourth of July weekend at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 (Sunday, July 5, 7:45 p.m. ET, NBC).
In addition, the U.S. Air Force will remain an associate partner on the No. 43 Ford for the entire 2015 season. This season marks the U.S. Air Force's 15th in NASCAR. Almirola will also continue to support at-track swear-ins for the Delayed Entry Program and entertain active duty military guests at the track.
Almirola won the Coke Zero 400 last summer at Daytona with the U.S. Air Force as his primary sponsor. The victory was his first in the Sprint Cup Series and came on the 30th anniversary of Richard Petty's 200th win.
The military branch has a close tie to Almirola as his father served in the U.S. Air Force and Almirola was born on Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
"Working with the Air Force for the past three years has been really rewarding," Almirola said in a team release. "With my dad serving in the Air Force, I understand the sacrifice the men and women make to keep our country safe. It was great to be able to celebrate my first Sprint Cup win with the Air Force, and I'm so glad they will be back as we defend our win in the Coke Zero 400."