NEWS & NOTES

SMITHFIELD TO SHR Smithfield, long a backer of Richard Petty Motorsports’ No. 43 effort driven by Aric Almirola, announced Monday that it was shifting its funding to StewartHaas Racing next season. Smithfield didn’t clarify which SHR team or driver it planned to back. The sponsorship change leaves the RPM team in a lurch just one season after it downsized with the departure of Brian Scott. Smithfield provided the bulk of the team’s sponsorship and support. Adam Stern reports that the team is likely pursuing new opportunities with current SHR sponsors such as Hunt Brothers Pizza. RPM has had a rocky season thanks in part to Almirola’s back injury suffered at Kansas Speedway in May. Almirola, with six seasons of full-time Cup experience, will likely now be testing the free-agent waters. HOMESTEAD, DAYTONA OKAY Hurricane Irma presented a real threat to South Florida and Homestead-Miami Speedway over the weekend. But some course changes — the hurricane detoured west of its forecasted track — and slight weakening allowed the 1.5mile speedway built from the ruins of 1992’s Hurricane Andrew to avoid significant damage. “During the course of Hurricane Irma, Homestead-Miami Speedway sustained minor and cosmetic damage to non-essential parts of the speedway. None of this damage is expected to impact our ability to host Ford Championship Weekend, November 17-19,” said the speedway in a statement. The storm walloped nearly all of Florida with rain and high winds, and also caused “moderate” damage to Daytona International Speedway. Daytona officials said the cleanup and repair wouldn’t impact any events on its calendar.