NASCAR Team Spotlight: Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty Motorsports 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

Another season went by and once again RPM was left out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase. That being said, things could change in 2014 and that is all because NASCAR has changed its rules....Again. 16 drivers now get in and if you win a race in the first 26 races you are all but in the Chase. Now Aric Almirola still hasn't found his first Cup win, but Marcus Ambrose is great on road courses so it sits well with him. So, will this be the year RPM gets back into the Chase (Haven't had a driver in since Kasey Kahne in 2009)?

2013 Team Stats
Wins: 0
Top 5: 1
Top 10: 12

Marcus Ambrose

• After winning on a road course in back to back seasons (2011 and 2012) Ambrose was shut out in 2013. He went 0-2 at the two tracks he has his best shot at pulling off a win at. I would imagine in 2014 he will be extra focused on these two road course races. This season, if he wins one of the two races, he will most likely make the Chase for the first time in his career. This is also a contract year at RPM and it is unclear if he will be back with RPM in 2015.

Aric Almirola

• Aric Almirola didn't get his first win of Cup in 2013 but he did fair better than 2012. This jump wasn't as substantial as many would have liked, but his stats did get better. After the season ended he was put on the hot seat because 2014 was to be his last year under contract, but he recently was signed back on as well as Smithsfield. In 2014 he will still be looking for his first win of his career.

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