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 43 ARIC ALMIROLA, Ford
Team: Richard Petty Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: 16th, 52 points out of first place; 23 points out
of the top 12 which advance to the next round after the third race
of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Lost four spots last
week.
NEW HAMPSHIRE RECORD: One top-five finish in eight starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Almirola said, "Last weekend was so heartbreaking,
but it confirmed what we already know in that we belong in this
Chase. Now, we have to regroup and change our goal to winning. There
is a possibility of getting in on points, but it is slim, so we need
to focus on winning. New Hampshire isn't our best track in the
Chase. I don't think we learned much in the July race that we can
transfer to this weekend. We really need to start fresh. It is the
one track I have been nervous about in the Chase."
 LOOKING BACK: A caution flag on lap 68 of the 267-lap event kept a
struggling Almirola from going a lap down. Crew chief Trent Owens
then made several major adjustments on the ensuing pit stop that
turned Almirola into one of the fastest cars in the field as he
raced his way into the top 10. He was running sixth when disaster
struck on lap 230 as he suffered engine failure to end his day in
41st place. "Heartbroken - I think is the easiest way to describe
how I feel," said Almirola. "We have nothing to hang our heads
about. We drove from 23rd up to the top-10, running sixth with just
over 30 (laps) to go and it just wasn't meant to be. The motor just
let go."
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ETC.: Almirola hopes Owens can "come up with something that will
(allow me to) turn in the middle (of the corner) like we need to and
drive off the corners (at New Hampshire). If that happens, we'll
have a good day. At this point, we need to do whatever we can to win
the race."
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