Smithfield Foods has extended its partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 Ford Fusion driven by Aric Almirola.
On Wednesday the two sides announced a three-year extension.
The company and its family of brands, including Eckrich, Farmland, Gwaltney, Nathan’s and Smithfield, will return as primary sponsors of the No. 43 for 29 races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule in 2014.
Last season they were featured on the No. 43 car 25 times up from 15 in 2012.
“I believe in the power of NASCAR and Richard Petty Motorsports. My challenge to RPM was to help Smithfield connect our brands with the sport’s 80 plus million fans,” commented Larry Pope, President and CEO of Smithfield Foods. “Our results completely validate our participation.”
Likewise team owner Richard Petty is looking forward to an extended partnership.
“We are proud to see the goals of our partnership with Smithfield Foods exceed everyone’s expectations,” explained Richard Petty, co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. “During our first meeting with Smithfield, Larry was very candid in his belief that the NASCAR platform was perfectly aligned with their customer, but the only way he would invest in the sport was for us to prove the sport could produce growth for his brands.”
