Dakoda Armstrong and the No. 43 WinField Ford team came to Charlotte Motor Speedway hoping for a repeat of the strong 1.5-mile track performance the team has enjoyed this season. Armstrong started the day fighting slick track conditions, and the team made adjustments during the first caution. Armstrong found the stability he needed and was able to climb his way into the Top-15. The No. 43 WinField Ford was able to maintain good track position throughout the race, climbing to a race high 13th position before a late race caution. Shortly after the final restart, heavy traffic and a loose handling race car robbed Armstrong of a Top-15 finish after an otherwise solid day. Armstrong finished in the 16th position. Armstrong climbs one spot to 15th in the Championship Points Standings.
Armstrong started the race from the 18th position. He battled slick track conditions and a loose car during the initial part of the race. Tire wear became a factor early into the run, and he began to slide back. On Lap 25, Armstrong was running in 21st position. The car was very difficult to drive in traffic, especially off of the corner. As the field began to spread out, Armstrong commented the car was improving deeper into the run. On Lap 40, he began to progress forward through the field, running a similar pace as the leaders. Armstrong was able to race into the 20th position before the first caution of the race. On Lap 49, the caution came out for oil on the race track. Armstrong told Crew Chief Frankie Kerr the car was loose in traffic, and he needed more grip center off in Turn Three and Four. Kerr called for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Armstrong came to pit road under caution on Lap 50. The pit crew made a smooth, fast pit stop and gained Armstrong two positions on pit road.
The race restarted on Lap 57 with Armstrong in the 18th position. The car was similar to the first segment of the race; loose at the beginning of the run but improved as the laps counted down. Armstrong maintained the 18th position for 40 laps. On Lap 95, the WinField Ford Mustang made a green-flag pit stop. Kerr called for four tires and fuel. The pit crew gave Armstrong another lightning fast pit stop, gaining him to two more positions. However while on pit road, Armstrong lost a lap. Armstrong rejoined the field in the 15th position, the first car one lap down. He maintained the "Lucky Dog" position with help from the fresh tires until the next caution. The caution came out on Lap 111 for debris in Turn Four. Now back on the lead lap, Armstrong was able to pit with the leaders. Kerr called for four fresh tires with a small air pressure adjustment and fuel. As Armstrong exited his pit box, he checked up to avoid other cars leaving their respective pit stalls. Armstrong lost two positions. The race started on Lap 117 with Armstrong in the 17th position.
Five laps after the restart on Lap 122, Armstrong was able to improve to the 16th position. Armstrong radioed, "the car is really loose center off. We're losing time on the exit of Turn Four." Kerr reminded Armstrong the car would improve over the run and to continue to stay out of trouble until it does. On Lap 150, Armstrong caught a group of cars for position. After several hard fought battles, Armstrong was able to improve to the 13th position on Lap 157. The final caution of the race came on Lap 160 for a wreck in Turn One. Armstrong came on the radio asking for more grip through the corner. Kerr called for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Armstrong pit under caution, and the crew made its third flawless pit stop of the day. The race restarted on Lap 167 with Armstrong in 13th position.
Armstrong battled hard to try to improve his position after the restart. On Lap 175, the extra wear on the tires became apparent. Armstrong tried to make his way through a heavy bunch of traffic but lost three positions on Lap 178 dropping to 16h position. Armstrong maintained the spot and finished 16th. Armstrong improves one spot to 15th in the Championship Points Standings.
"I'm really proud of the WinField team," said Armstrong. "We didn't qualify as well as we would have liked to, but we steadily improved over the course of the race. The car was good all day long. The track was very slick. We were free in traffic but still able to make passes. I owe that to the crew. They kept us in the fight with great pits stops and made great adjustments. We got caught in traffic late in the race, and it cost us a few positions at the end. Overall, it was a really calm race. We didn't have a lot of cautions. We were forced to improve a little bit at a time. It was a slow and steady progress. But, we learned a lot, gained some points and finally have good momentum behind us."
About Richard Petty Motorsports:
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force, STP, and Fresh From Florida, and Sam Hornish Jr. drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Medallion Bank and Twisted Tea. In addition, Dakoda Armstrong wheels the No. 43 WinField Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.