Aric Almirola Makes 200th Sprint Cup Start at Pocono Raceway #nascar

Unfortunately, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return to the Pocono Mountains this weekend for the second race at the Tricky Triangle of the 2016 season was postponed due to adverse weather. 

The delay means that Aric Almirola will have to wait an extra day before competing in his 200th career Sprint Cup Series race.

“It’s going to be my 200th start, which is a pretty cool milestone. To say that I’ve been around this sport long enough to make 200 Sprint Cup starts is incredible. I remember my first race back at Las Vegas in 2007. I was so nervous; I didn’t sleep a wink that whole weekend because I had dreamed about going Cup racing my whole life. So when I finally got the opportunity, I wanted to make the most of it. I’ll definitely sleep better the night before race day this weekend, but I’m still just as excited to climb into a Sprint Cup car for my 200th start as I was for my first.”

The No. 43 Smithfield Ford qualified 27th for the ‘Axalta 400’ which is schedule to start today at 11:00 a.m. ET.

“Unfortunately, we are struggling with the handling of our No. 43 Smithfield Ford. We were too tight early in practice and made some gains, but it wasn’t enough for qualifying. We rolled off too tight and just barely got bumped on our first run. Then, we just didn’t have enough to get back into the Top-24. We’re disappointed but will continue to work hard to improve our cars.”

Interesting Note: Team Owner Richard “King” Petty has won a record 200 National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing races, including a record seven Daytona 500s, in his thirty-five year career (1958–92).

Use #AA200 to Join the Celebration

“I’m extremely proud to have been at your side through all of your 200 Cup starts. I respect all the hard work and dedications that you put forth to not only follow your dream but to support our family. Congratulations on this great milestone!” – Janice Almirola, Aric’s Wife

“Congratulations on your 200th start! The accomplishments, your dedication to both racing and family and the hard work that it took to get to this point in your career is simply amazing. You are certainly one of the best drivers I have ever worked for and one of the best guys around the garage. Hopefully your 200th start will bring us both great success!” –Trent Owens, Crew Chief of the No. 43 Ford.

Air Titans just fired up to dry the #TrickyTriangle @poconoraceway. Let's get the track ready for #AA200! pic.twitter.com/hcomWMqLrR

— RPMotorsports (@RPMotorsports) July 31, 2016

Will #NASCAR Race Today It’s Tricky

Update at 10:05 a.m. ET

 Not Looking That Good

NASCAR Race Mom arose bright and early this morning in the hopes of getting many of her tasks completed before the drop of the NASCAR green flag at Pocono Raceway. However, it is all reliant on Mother Natures’ mood this morning.

Well it seems that good news is in the forecast. The Pennsylvania 400 at the 2.5-mile, three-turn course appears to be on track for its 11:00 a.m. (ET) start.

According to Weather.com, the chance of rain at Pocono is just 5% at 11 a.m. and 15% at noon. Unfortunately, by 1 p.m., the forecast calls for a 35% chance of rain, rising to 55% at 2 p.m.

Since the average NASCAR Sprint Cup race last about three hours; mayhaps they should start this show a tad early!

Click Here For The Pocono Raceway Radar

Pocono Raceway Twitter

Hashtag #PA400

Always up front this season. Expect nothing less today. 🏁 https://t.co/TRLidz4N7n

— Sunoco Racing (@SunocoRacing) August 1, 2016

.@KyleBusch's son, Brexton, steals the show with rockstar bit during #PA400 delay https://t.co/RgpKUH9Mtl pic.twitter.com/NPSc3grqvN

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 31, 2016

Norm Benning – Wows Spectators and Fellow Racers Alike (#NASCAR)

If you ever get the urge to smirk when you see Norm Benning in the race; watch the video below just once more. It is guaranteed to put a tear in your eye and pride in your heart.

A longtime ARCA racer, Benning has been a fixture at NASCAR’s national level since the late 1990s, but he’s never enjoyed a moment quite like the one he had on July 24, 2013 in a last-chance qualifying race at Eldora.

Once at the white flag, and again off Turn 4 before the checkered, Clay Greenfield tried slide-job passes to edge Benning for the fifth and final spot into the main event. Both times Benning held on, wedging his red No. 57 truck against the wall and sliding sideways across the finish line to the delight of both the garage area and the sellout crowd.

In the 2013 inaugural event of the first race for a NASCAR national series on dirt since 1970, the then sixty-two-year-old Norm Benning used all his dirt-track background and wall-banging expertise to produce one of the most enduring memories of the entire season. 

"It's a lot more level playing field being on the dirt," Benning stated at the time. "As they say, horsepower and aerodynamics don't have a lot to do with it. You're just running around out there, bouncing off walls all night. It's a lot of fun."

While the moment may have earned him the biggest cheers of his career, the ‘banging battle’ with Greenfield took a toll on his vehicle. However, much to his surprise, just minutes later, the rest of the truck series garage provided much needed assistance.

Norm started the race from the thirtieth position and finished in twenty-sixth, four-laps down.

Some may label Benning a field filler; however, NASCAR Race Mom maintains that Norm is what makes our sport of NASCAR great. He never gave up and made the show.

You have to love this sport to put in the hours we do - Norm Benning