NASCAR: Aric Almirola warns Darrell Wallace Jr. not to screw up

Aric Almirola has warned fellow NASCAR Cup Series driver Darrell Wallace Jr. not to screw up as a driver for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Aric Almirola, 33, drove in the NASCAR Cup Series as a full-time driver for the first time in the 2012 season, and he did so driving the #43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports. He continued driving full-time for the team for another five seasons after that.

This offseason, Almirola was confirmed as Danica Patrick’s replacement at Stewart-Haas Racing in the #10 Ford since Patrick is now retired as a full-time driver. Smithfield Foods, Inc. is set to move their sponsorship from Richard Petty Motorsports to Stewart-Haas Racing to continue their sponsorship of Almirola.

Darrell Wallace Jr., 24, was then confirmed as Almirola’s replacement in the #43 car, which is now the #43 Chevrolet as opposed to the #43 Ford, for Richard Petty Motorsports.

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Wallace Jr. substituted for Almirola in the #43 Ford last season in four of the seven races that Almirola had to sit out due to a back injury he suffered in a nasty wreck during the Kansas race in May. He drove at Pocono, Michigan, Daytona and Kentucky.

Wallace Jr. finished in 26th place at Pocono, 19th at Michigan, 15th at Daytona and 11th at Kentucky for an average finish of 17.75 in his first four career Cup Series races. He improved his result in each race in which he drove.

Almirola issued a warning to Wallace Jr., his replacement at Richard Petty Motorsports, ahead of the 2018 season, which is set to be Wallace Jr.’s first season as a full-time driver. Here is what Almirola had to say to Wallace Jr., according to Motorsport.com.

"“Don’t screw up.The King [Petty] will put his finger in your chest. He has very high expectations and wants the best.While he has been incredible for me and my family, it is sometimes hard to measure up because everywhere you go, Richard Petty has done something extraordinary at that race track or venue.“You look at a guy that has won 15 times at Martinsville. So every time you show up at Martinsville you have to hear about that and see how you stack up. All of those things. You are constantly being compared to The King and that is tough to live up to.”"

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Will Darrell Wallace Jr. live up to expectations in his first NASCAR Cup Series season as a full-time driver for Richard Petty Motorsports? The season is set to get underway on Sunday, February 18th with the 60th annual Daytona 500, which is set to be broadcast live on FOX starting at 2:30 pm ET.

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