Martinsville Race Recap

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Charter Ford Fusion
• Friday’s qualifying session was canceled due to rain so the No. 43 Ford lined up for the event in 21st.
• Allmendinger was involved in an accident on lap 171 and was forced behind to the garage for repairs
• After returning to the track, the engine on the No. 43 expired

Race Summary: AJ Allmendinger took off from the 21st position in the rain postponed Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Monday. The No. 43 Charter Ford Fusion was tight from the start. Crew chief Mike Shiplett took advantage of the first caution of the day at Lap 40 to make adjustments to the Richard Petty Motorsports Ford.

The adjustments helped Allmendinger climb into the top-20. Two additional cautions came out within 30 laps of the first caution on Lap 40. The No. 43 stayed out on track during both cautions to maintain its 18th position in the field. As the race approached the 100-lap mark, Allmendinger reported the car was back to being really tight and felt they had lost both front and rear grip.

The No. 43 Charter Ford came down pit road during the caution period at Lap 162 for more adjustments. As the field went back to green, Allmendinger felt the changes made would enable him to climb back through the field. But at Lap 171, the No. 43 was involved in a multi-car accident forcing the driver to the garage for repairs.

The Richard Petty Motorsports crew worked quickly to make necessary repairs and was able to send Allmendinger back on track at Lap 234. Two laps later though, the engine expired due to some of the damage from the accident ending the day early for Allmendinger and the No. 43 Charter Ford team.


Credit: Richard Petty Motorsports PR