Smithfield Foods, a longtime partner of NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola, will not continue its NASCAR partnership beyond this season, the brand confirmed in a statement Saturday.
The company, which first partnered with a Tampa, Fla., native in 2012 at Richard Petty Motorsports, has played a significant role in Aric Almirola’s career over the past decade, including as as main partner of the Ford Mustang No. 10. since 2018.
“Smithfield Foods congratulates Aric Almirola on his excellent run with Stewart-Haas Racing. With Aric’s decision to explore new opportunities, the time is right for Smithfield to end our NASCAR partnership,” the brand said in a statement. “We have been with Aric since the beginning. We were his first sponsor in 2012, its first full-year sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series, and we’ve had a lot of success with it over the years.
“Aric has been an incredible ambassador for Smithfield over the past 12 seasons, and we have enjoyed an exceptional relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing over our six seasons together. We plan to finish 2023 strong and wish Aric and SHR the best.
Along with Almirola’s retirement speculation, the brand has also been a major topic in the NASCAR Cup Series garage over the past two years, after rumors swirled that the brand would leave NASCAR altogether.
The official announcement comes just after Almirola, 39, announced he would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, but rather explore other opportunities, other than driving the No. 10 Ford Mustang.
This season, Smithfield served as the primary partner of the No. 10 Ford Mustang for Aric Almirola, partnering with the organization on a 30-race deal, typical of how it has operated in previous seasons.
Smithfield Foods Statement on NASCAR Sponsorship pic.twitter.com/Z9u5i05ymm
– Smithfield Foods (@SmithfieldFoods) October 28, 2023
