Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
The U.S. Air Force has been a partner of Richard Petty Motorsports through the years, and that will continue this Memorial Day weekend as the branch of service will be the primary sponsor for Aric Almirola’s No. 43 Ford in the Coca Cola 600.
“It’s incredibly important that we, as Americans, continue to honor the service and sacrifice of our fallen heroes,” Col. Michael Flatten, 24th Special Operations Wing vice commander, said. “The Special Tactics Airmen we’ve lost were all exceptional warriors who not only volunteered to join our nation’s Special Operations Forces, but earned their way to the tip of the spear in defense of our nation.”
Almirola has a connection to the Air Force as he was born on Eglin Air Force Base.
“It’s truly an honor to be able to represent the U.S. Air Force and honor Staff Sgt. Sibley on Memorial Day weekend,” said Almirola. “Our fallen men and women in the armed forces have paid the ultimate price so that we can race each weekend, and I’m glad that NASCAR has given us the opportunity to recognize their sacrifices. I’m excited to have Staff Sgt. Sibley’s family join us for the race, and hopefully, at the end of the night, they will get to celebrate with our team and the U.S. Air Force in Victory Lane.”
Each of the drivers are featuring a fallen hero’s name on the car, and Almirola will feature U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley on the windshield header. Sibley began his placement in active duty in November 2008, entering a two-year combat controller training pipeline upon completing basic training. The Sargent spent time in Africa and Afghanistan as a ground special operator qualified in military static line, free fall, combat scuba diving and join terminal attack control. In August of 2015, he was killed while in Afghanistan after two individuals opened fire on a vehicle checkpoint. He received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor and Purple Heart.
