Almirola Finishes 14th at Richmond
Smithfield Ford Driver Remains Three Points Ahead of Playoff Cutoff
Date: Sept. 11, 2021
Event: Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders (Round 28 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway(.75-mile oval)
Format: 400 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/155 laps/165 laps)
Start/Finish: 9th / 14th (Running, completed 399 of 400 laps)
Point Standing: 11th (2,056 points, three points ahead of top-12 cutoff)
Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-80):
● Aric Almirola started ninth and finished 10th, earning one bonus point.
● Almirola said his Smithfield Ford turned good in the middle of the turns but struggled with drive off the turns.
● The No. 10 team radioed that Almirola was the second fastest car on track before the competition was called.
● He pitted for four tires, fuel and air pressure