Armstrong started the race from the 18th position. The race began with a 50 lap green flag stretch. Armstrong dropped back to 20th position within the first five laps. Armstrong regained momentum and moved into 19th by Lap 10. The car improved deeper into the run. By Lap 40, Armstrong was racing for 16th position. The first caution flag of the night came on Lap 50 for debris in Turn 3. Armstrong reported the car had good balance throughout the run. Crew Chief Frankie Kerr called for an air pressure adjustment. The WinField crew made an air pressure adjustment, changed all four tires, and filled the fuel tank. During the stop, a tire escaped the pit box. Armstrong went to the back of the pack to serve the issued penalty. The race restarted on Lap 53 with Armstrong in 20th position.
The race went green over the next 90 laps. Armstrong fought through lapped traffic in 35 laps. On Lap 85, Armstrong began passing cars for position and moved into the 19th spot. Shortly before the halfway point, the leaders began their green flag pit stops. As the leaders began to approach, Armstrong came down to pit road on Lap 103. The WinField crew made another air pressure adjustment, changed all four tires, and filled the fuel tank. After green flag stops had cycled through, Armstrong was racing for 17th position one lap down.
Armstrong maintained the 17th position until the next caution flag. The second caution of the night came on Lap 143 for debris on the backstretch. Armstrong reported the track changed and the car was now a little loose. Kerr called for some more air pressure changes. The WinField crew made the air pressure adjustment, changed four tires, and filled the fuel tank. With the quick stop, Armstrong gained a position on pit road. The race restarted on Lap 146 with Armstrong in 16th position one lap down.
Shortly after the race restarted, two of the lead cars tangled and wrecked into the outside wall, sending debris across the racing surface. The third and final caution flag of the night came on Lap 152. Armstrong stayed out during the yellow for track position. Armstrong restarted the race in 15th spot, one lap down.
The race went green until completion. Armstrong was one of three cars one lap down. Armstrong maintained the 15th position for the first 27 laps of the run. On Lap 180, Armstrong fell back to 16th position after reaching lapped traffic. Armstrong continued run a fast pace, but ran out of time before catching the next car for position. The checkered flag waved on Lap 200. He finished in 16th position and remains 14th in the Championship Points Standings.
"I'm proud of this team. We were fast all night. The track went to the loose side as the temperature dropped. The car was good and only needed minor adjustments. We had an error on pit road that cost us, but we were able to salvage the night and gain points on the couple guys ahead of us. Our WinField Ford has improved steadily over the past few weeks. We plan on another good run at Kansas."
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.