SMITHFIELD, Va. – Smithfield Foods renewed its sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), which will keep Smithfield as the main brand on the No. 10 Ford Mustang driven by Aric Almirola in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“The Smithfield brand has enjoyed great success with Aric Almirola and Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Michael Merritt, senior marketing director for Smithfield. “It’s a true partnership that performs on the racetrack, with retailers and our consumers. Aric resonates well with them because he’s genuine, and overall, a great ambassador for the company. He has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today and we’ve been a part of that journey for nearly a decade, and the payoff from all that hard work has been amplified by Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Smithfield’s partnership with SHR began in 2018. Almirola has represented Smithfield Foods since 2012, which was his first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 2020 season will mark Almirola’s ninth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series and third with SHR. Almirola has reached the NASCAR Playoffs in each of his two seasons with SHR.

“Aric is one of the most focused and determined drivers I’ve ever met, and he’s got the skills to match,” said Tony Stewart, who co-owns SHR with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. “He’s taken the opportunity here at SHR and seized it. Keeping him as the driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang was a priority and we’re very happy to have it continue.”