Aric Almirola was characterized as an underdog entering Sunday’s MyAFIBSTORY.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, but the underdog spoke up, until the driver of the No. 43 Eckrich Ford Fusion blew up on Lap 230, resulting in a disappointing 41st place finish.
Almirola who started mid-pack methodically began working his way through the 43-car field, but it wasn’t until after the second caution flag of the day, where Almirola really began to mount his charge.
Climbing from 13th on Lap 105, the Richard Petty Motorsports Ford accelerated forward over the next 100 laps to find himself sixth on Lap 225. Through green flag pit stops, the Daytona July winner found himself taking the lead for two circuits on Lap 229, but after Almirola made his green flag pit stop, the engine seized, abruptly ending his day and maybe even his championship hopes.
“Heartbroken I think is the easiest way to describe it,” said Almirola in the garage. “I am really proud of my guys. We have nothing to hang our heads about. They brought me an awesome race car. We drove from 23rd up to the top-10, running sixth with just over 30 to go and it just wasn’t meant to be. We will regroup and go to Loudon and Dover and try to be spectacular.”
Almirola added, “I think the motor just let go. Doug Yates builds awesome horsepower for us every week and we rarely have any engine issues at all. It happened but we had a lot of horsepower while it lasted.”
As for his approach for the next two races, before elimination time?
“We have to win,” Almirola added. ““That is it. There is no other option. We have to go and figure out how we can win one of the next two races.”
The first person to meet Almirola in the garage after the heartbreak? None other than team owner Richard Petty, who hugged and praised his driver for his valiant effort.
Exiting Chicagoland Speedway, Almirola is 16th in the championship standings, 52 points in the arrears to leader Brad Keselowski.
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