This shows that nasty words and hard feelings can be overcome.
Just about six weeks after Smithfield Foods left Richard Petty Motorsports -- resulting in a nasty war of words on both sides -- Smithfield is returning to RPM in 2018.
Smithfield issued a statement to the Sports Business Journal (subscription required) that said:
We're pleased that there has been a resolution to this misunderstanding. Smithfield has enjoyed its six-year relationship with RPM and like any NASCAR supporter, we want to continue to see the No. 43 car on the track for years to come. Richard is truly a legend in NASCAR -- a sport and community of fans that we love and are proud to continue to support in 2018.
.@SmithfieldFoods says in statement to SBJ that it's resolved misunderstanding with @RPMotorsports and will be a partner of the team in '18. pic.twitter.com/sNvbPlvUQZ
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 30, 2017
That tone is far different from September, when both sides exchanged harsh words.
Petty said he had a handshake agreement with Smithfield to continue sponsorship of the No. 43, but instead, Smithfield announced it was moving its sponsorship money to Stewart-Haas racing. Petty said, at the time, "I come from a time when we did major deals with sponsors like STP on a handshake. I'm sad to see this is where we are now."
RELATED: Smithfield Food rips into Richard Petty
Smithfield fired back, saying it couldn't stay with Petty because of poor results on the track and that he lied about a handshake deal.
Apparently, that's now all in the rear view mirror. Adam Stern of the SBJ, in a series of tweets, said the Smithfield-RPM relationship will take a new form, and will still become a major sponsor for Stewart Haas,
Sources said that relationship with RPM will be different moving forward, and it's unclear whether there will be any paint schemes involved.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 30, 2017
.@SmithfieldFoods will still also be making its planned move to @StewartHaasRcng next year, in addition to this resolution with RPM.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 30, 2017