CUP: Report Puts Almirola In RPM’s No. 43

Sprint Cup

CUP: Report Puts Almirola In RPM’s No. 43

Aric Almirola apparently is the choice to fill the No. 43 car vacancy at Richard Petty Motorsports...

Mike Hembree | Posted December 23, 2011 Charlotte, NC

Aric Almirola spent the 2011 season in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Aric Almirola apparently is the choice to fill the No. 43 car vacancy at Richard Petty Motorsports.

It was reported by ThatsRacin.com Friday night that Almirola is the top choice to replace AJ Allmendinger in the car once driven by team co-owner Richard Petty.

The report said Almirola’s selection will be announced early next year.

RPM officials could not be reached for comment Friday night.

Almirola finished fourth in Nationwide Series points while driving for JR Motorsports this season. He had no wins but finished in the top 10 in 18 of 34 races.

Almirola, 27, has raced in 35 Sprint Cup events and has a top finish of fourth. He has one Nationwide and two Truck wins.

David Ragan, the odd man out at Roush Fenway racing this year, was assumed to be under consideration for the RPM vacancy.

The ride opened up when Allmendinger accepted an offer to replace Kurt Busch at Penske Racing.

Almirola would be a teammate to Marcos Ambrose.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 29 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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