ARIC ALMIROLA Smithfield Racing Team Report Round 2 of 36 – Folds of Honor 500 – Atlanta

Car No.: 10 – Smithfield Ford Fusion

At-Track PR Contact: Lauren Emling, True Speed Communication (704-875-3388 ext. 811, [email protected])

Primary Team Members:

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

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

Engine Specialist: Todd Hamm Spotter: Joel Edmonds Hometown: Kutztown, Pennsylvania Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Fuelman: Jeremy Howard Front Changer: Ryan Mulder Hometown: Dalhart, Texas Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa

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

Jackman: Brian Chase Hometown: York, Maine

Road Crew Members:

Transporter Driver: Todd Cable and Scott Robins Tire Technician: Jacob Engle Hometowns: Shelby, North Carolina, and Woodsville, New Hampshire, Hometown: El Cajon, California 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: J.D. Frey Front End Mechanic: Andy Spenner Hometown: Ferndale, California Hometown: Hoyletown, Illinois

Interior Mechanic: Jay Guarneri Hometown: Naples, Florida

Atlanta Motor Speedway Notes of Interest:

 This weekend’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway marks Aric Almirola’s 246th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start. With his best finish of ninth at the Hampton, Georgia track, Almirola is looking for a win at the 1.54-mile oval. o The 33-year-old has one top-10 finish at the intermediate venue and has an average finish of 19.3 in the Cup Series.

 In addition to his seven Cup Series starts at the Georgia track, Almirola has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and four Camping World Truck Series starts earlier in his career. o Almirola’s Xfinity Series statistics at the mile-and-a-half track totals one top-10 with 99.5 percent of all possible laps completed. o The Tampa, Florida native has accomplished two top-five finishes and two top-10s in the Camping World Truck Series.

 Atlanta is the first intermediate race of the 2018 season for Almirola and the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion team. The No. 10 team already visited a mile-and-a-half track earlier this year with a successful Goodyear tire test on Jan. 9 and 10 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

-more- Smithfield Racing Team Report – Atlanta I Page Two

 Crew chief Johnny Klausmeier is in his first full-time season as a Cup Series crew chief. The native of Perry Hall, Maryland 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. As a race engineer at SHR, Klausmeier has worked with drivers Ryan Newman, and, most recently, .

 Smithfield joined SHR this season and will be the primary partner for the majority of the season on the No. 10 Ford Fusion 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.

Aric Almirola’s History at Atlanta Motor Speedway: Year Date Event Start Finish Status/Laps Laps Led Earnings 2017 3/5 Folds of Honor 500 30 27 Running, 321/325 0 N/A 2016 2/28 ◊Folds of Honor 500 27 15 Running, 328/330 0 N/A 2015 3/1 Folds of Honor 500 23 11 Running, 325/325 0 $148,746 2014 8/31 ×Oral-B USA 500 7 9 Running, 335/335 0 $151,506 2013 9/1 AdvoCare 500 29 20 Running, 323/325 0 $140,091 2012 9/2 ×AdvoCare 500 13 32 Running, 297/327 0 $124,291 2009 3/8 ×Kobalt Tools 500 37 21 Running, 327/330 0 $84,550 * 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 speed ◊ Race length was extended due to overtime finish

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