during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 29, 2016 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

Blockbuster sponsorship news could mean huge change for a major team


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Richard Petty Motorsports' loss is Stewart-Haas Racing's gain.

Motorsports is reporting that Smithfield Foods, a major RPM sponsor for the No. 43 driven by Aric Almirola, will take its sponsorship money to Stewart-Haas. Smithfield backed out of a handshake deal in which it would have continued as the No. 43 sponsor because RPM wanted to put Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. in the car.

So this opens up amazing possibilities -- and by connecting the dots, could have an impact on Danica Patrick.

Smithfield clearly likes Almirola.

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Smithfield is (potentially) moving to Stewart-Haas.

Patrick has already acknowledged she'll lose the No. 10 if  she doesn't come up with a sponsor.

Connecting the dots, could Patrick retire to pay more attention to her flourishing business interests, with Almirola taking over a Smithfield-sponsored No. 10?

Stay tuned.

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