Homestead Race Preview

AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 43 Best Buy Ford Fusion

• AJ Allmendinger has made three starts at Homestead–Miami Speedway
• Allmendinger enters the weekend in 16th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings
• Allmendinger’s best finish (fifth) at the 1.5-mile track came in last year’s season finale at Homestead.

Allmendinger on Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “I’m excited to be going to Homestead. I’ve always run really well at that track. I’ve got three finishes of 11th-place or higher there, and I’m really looking forward to going back this weekend. We had a great run in Phoenix last weekend and I know Greg (Erwin) and the whole Best Buy team have worked really hard to give me a great race car this weekend that will be capable of winning. I can’t think of a better way to end my season than to get my first Cup Series win, and I think I’ve got a real shot at it this weekend.”

Crew Chief Greg Erwin’s Thoughts on Homestead-Miami Speedway: “Homestead is a tricky place to get around. It has multiple grooves, which makes it a great place for drivers to get their cars working on the top and bottom of the race track. Having multiple racing grooves makes it an exciting race for the fans to watch. Tire “give up” is high, similar to some of the older racetracks we go to and a good long run can make a big difference. The Ford engine has performed very well at the intermediate tracks this year, and I expect the fans will see a great championship battle this weekend. AJ has a terrific average finish at Homestead and I think his confidence is growing every week. Everybody here at RPM would love to see AJ get his first Cup series win at Homestead this weekend. The winner will carry a lot of momentum into the 2012 season and we are going to try really hard to get that Best Buy Ford in Victory Lane at the end of the day on Sunday.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team has prepared chassis No. 783 for this weekend’s event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This Best Buy Ford Fusion was run previously this season at Chicago and Charlotte.

Notes: Allmendinger has three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway and has finished inside the top-15 in all three events at the 1.5-mile track. Allmendinger enters Homestead in 16th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings. He has completed 100 percent of laps (801) attempted at the track and has an average finish of 8.1.

Allmendinger will have a different look this weekend as Best Buy will return as the primary partner on the No. 43 Ford Fusion for the final race of the 2011 season.

Don’t miss out on your chance to meet The Dinger! AJ will be appearing at the Best Buy store in Miami, Fla. (10760 NW 17th Street, Miami, Fla. 33172). The appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5-7 p.m. ET and is open to the public.

Can’t get enough of AJ? The Dinger will visit the Ford Display at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET for a 15 minute Q-and-A session.

The last of 12 Best Buy “Re-Tailgate” events will occur Sunday. A combination of 100 premiere Best Buy customers and Best Buy employees will be invited to a private tailgating event. The guests will get the opportunity to meet Allmendinger, and attendees will be given a pit tour before enjoying the race from their grandstand seats.

Allmendinger will be running a special decal on the decklid of the No. 43 this weekend to commemorate Dale Inman’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and eight championships as a crew chief.

Credit - Richard Petty Motorsports PR