Winning 43 In-Store Promotion Revs Up Excitement for the Anticipated 50th Anniversary of the Famous Record-Breaking Stock Car

SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield and Albertsons Companies are teaming up to offer fans the ultimate racing experience: a chance to win and drive away with a replica of Petty’s 1967 Belvedere through the 2016 Winning 43 sweepstakes. The sweepstakes celebrates the anticipated 50^th anniversary of the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere that drove racing legend Richard Petty, “The King,” into the history books with 27 wins during a single season.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c7a9ee8-dc2b-4515-aad5-a7e0dd351b34

Now through September 27, fans can enter for the Winning 43 experience by visiting any Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Market Street, Amigos and Carrs store, purchasing three or more Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan's Famous® or Margherita® branded products, and texting a photo of their receipt to 82257 along with a keyword found at their local store.

Fourteen lucky first-place winners will score an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Miami for the Homestead season finale race, where they each will receive a key to try powering up the King’s car during a celebratory key-turning ceremony. The winner whose key starts the engine will not only take home a replica of the car that allowed Petty to achieve more wins than any other car in racing history, but they’ll also get to take a ride with the King himself behind the wheel.

In addition, 70 second-place and third-place winners will receive top-of-the-line equipment for the perfect tailgate. Second-place winners will receive Richard Petty Motorsports No.43 Smithfield Racing YETI coolers and third-place winners will take home premium No.43 Smithfield Racing Weber Grills. Smithfield is the primary sponsor of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford race team.

“Race fans are some of the most loyal fans in the country, and no one can raise excitement quite like Petty,” said Bob Weber, vice president of sponsorships for Smithfield Foods. “We’re thrilled to partner with Albertsons Companies and Richard Petty Motorsports to reward these fans and customers with this exciting motorsports experience.”

“No team is more legendary in racing than Richard Petty and No. 43,” said Albertsons Companies Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Shane Sampson. “We’re excited to give our customers a chance to win a replica of the famous 1967 Belvedere — No. 43. Our partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and Smithfield will make the winner of this car, as well as 70 other winners, the envy of every tailgate.”

“Richard Petty Motorsports is thrilled to partner with Smithfield and Albertsons Companies to offer our fans a chance to win a replica of the car that helped me achieve 10 consecutive victories and a total of 27 wins in 1967,” said Richard Petty, RPM team owner. “This sweepstakes not only offers fans a unique driving experience but also celebrates the history and excitement of motorsports across the nation.”

Winners will be randomly selected and announced on-air on “NASCAR America” on October 20, 2016 on NBCSN. The entry limit is 10 per person during the Sweepstakes Period. For additional entry methods and for official rules, visit www.Winning43.com. 

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan's Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook's®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly's®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Aric Almirola and Brian Scott. Almirola will return to the iconic No. 43 Ford with partners Smithfield Foods, STP, United States Air Force and the “Fresh From Florida” campaign. Scott will make his debut with the team and drive the Petty Family No. 44 Ford. Albertsons Companies, Shore Lodge, Twisted Tea and GoBowling.com will join Scott as he competes for Rookie of the Year in his first full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.

About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Companies operate stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 19 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is dedicated to helping people across the country live better lives. In 2015 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave more than $270 million in food and financial support to the more than 2,300 communities it serves, improving the lives of millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities, and veterans outreach. Albertsons Companies is committed to making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Media Contacts:

Hunter PR for Smithfield
Elisabeth Garcia
(212) 679-6600
egarcia@hunterpr.com	

Richard Petty Motorsports
Heather Lumpp
(847) 302-5509
hlumpp@rpm43.com 	

Albertsons Companies
Teena Massingill
(925) 226-5820
teena.massingill@albertsons.com