ARIC ALMIROLA Smithfield Racing Team Report Round 17 of 36 – Camping World 400 – Chicagoland

Car No.: 10 – Smithfield

At-Track PR Contact: Dakota Hunter, True Speed Communication (704-875-3388 ext. 813, [email protected])

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Aric Almirola Crew Chief: John Klausmeier Hometown: Tampa, Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: Chad Haney Engine Builder: Roush Yates Engines Hometown: Fairmont, West Virginia Headquarters: Mooresville,

Engine Specialist: Jon Phillips Spotter: Joel Edmonds Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Fuelman: Jeremy Howard Front Changer: Daniel Coffey Hometown: Dalhart, Texas Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Carrier: Jon Bernal Rear Changer: Chris McMullen Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina Hometown: Canton, Michigan

Jackman: Brett Morell Hometown: Windham, Maine

Road Crew Members:

Transporter Driver: Todd Cable and Scott Robins Tire Technician: Keith Eads Hometowns: Shelby, North Carolina, and Woodsville, New Hampshire, Hometown: Arlington, Virginia respectively

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser Engineers: Mike Cook and Marc Hendricksen Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Hometowns: Annapolis, Maryland, and Clinton, New Jersey, respectively

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez Front End Mechanic: J.D. Frey Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Hometown: Ferndale, California

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams Hometown: Naples, Florida

Chicagoland Notes of Interest:

• Aric Almirola will make his 297th career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start and his seventh at in Joliet, Illinois.

• Almirola has one top-10 finish in seven career races at Chicagoland. His best finish of 10th came in 2015.

• In his most recent start at Chicagoland in 2018, Almirola piloted the Smithfield Ford Mustang in the lead for 70 laps.

• Career: Almirola has career totals of two wins, two poles, 16 top-five finishes, 58 top-10s and 457 laps led in 296 starts.

• 2019: Almirola has earned one pole, one top-five finish, nine top-10s and has led 100 laps in 16 races this season.

• Last win: Almirola’s Oct. 14, 2018 win at Talladega was his most recent in the Cup Series.

• Point standings: Almirola is 11th in the Cup Series standings with 460 points, 183 out of first place and tied with 10th-place . There are 10 regular-season races remaining. -more- Smithfield Racing Team Report – Chicagoland Page Two

• Crew chief is in his second full-time season as a Cup Series crew chief. The Perry Hall, Maryland, native transitioned from an engineer to Almirola’s crew chief for the 2018 season. Klausmeier has one win as a substitute crew chief while filling in for Tony Gibson at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June 2016, and one win as a crew chief for Almirola last fall at Talladega. As a race engineer at SHR, Klausmeier worked with drivers Ryan Newman, and .

• Smithfield rejoined SHR this season and is the primary partner for the majority of the season on the No. 10 Ford Mustang piloted by Almirola. Founded in 1936, Smithfield is a leading provider of high-quality pork products, with a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts.

• ‘Beyond the 10’ – Almirola announced that fans can now get VIP, behind-the-scenes access in following “Aric ‘Beyond the 10’” by subscribing to his YouTube channel and following episodes on Facebook and Instagram TV. Episodes will showcase never- before-seen footage of Almirola at the racetrack, on family trips, and “A Day in the Life” during the week, as well as all that goes into a NASCAR Cup Series driver’s season. Click here to subscribe on YouTube and watch the latest episode.

Aric Almirola’s History at Chicagoland Speedway: Year Date Event Start Finish Status/Laps Laps Led Earnings 2018 7/1 Overton’s 400 6 25 Running, 266/267 70 N/A 2017 9/17 Tales of the Turtles 400 21 24 Running, 264/267 0 N/A 2016 9/18 ◊†Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 27 32 Running, 266/270 0 N/A 2015 9/20 =MyAFibRisk.com 400 20 10 Running, 267/267 0 $146,381 2014 9/14 =MyAFibRisk.com 400 23 41 Engine, 230/267 2 $109,401 2013 9/15 Geico 400 15 13 Running, 267/267 1 $140,891 2012 9/16 Geico 400 2 17 Running, 266/267 3 $132,366 * Race cut short due to weather. × Race length extended due to green-white-checkered finish. = Qualifying canceled due to weather, starting position set via practice ◊ Race length was extended due to overtime finish

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