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From that meeting at the Virginia short track, a relationship was born, one that on Wednesday reached a new level with Smithfield's decision to ramp up its commitment to Richard Petty Motorsports, Almirola's team in the Sprint Cup Series. What began as a seven-race sponsorship deal two years ago has been expanded to 29 for this season and each of the next two years, with the company's investment in RPM increasing 50 percent each year through 2016. The agreement also includes a contact extension for Almirola, which is concurrent with the Smithfield deal.

The formal announcement took place in the Hudson Theatre, just steps from Broadway, and indeed had RPM officials signing a happy tune.

"It's tremendous," said Brian Moffitt, the team's chief executive officer. "When Richard took back control of the company, him being a champion and a winner, he didn't just want to run around in the back of the pack. It's about being competitive. And Smithfield stepping up the way they are, it gives us more testing opportunities, it gives us more to advance research and development. We've been able to hire human capital -- in our business it's all about the people, and we've been able to invest in some really good people we've been able to bring into the company."

The new agreement puts RPM's flagship No. 43 car in its best financial shape since Petty and a pair of investors took over a once-foundering organization from former majority owner George Gillett in late 2010. RPM, which receives chassis from Roush Fenway Racing and engines from Roush-Yates, also fields the No. 9 car of Marcos Ambrose. But the No. 43 has long been a symbol of the seven-time champion in the cowboy hat, and Wednesday's announcement bolstered hopes of ending a winless skid for the vehicle that dates back to 1999.

"Not only are they investing in Richard Petty Motorsports, but they're investing in our performance, to help us to perform at the level we need to be competitive," Almirola said. "Because let's be real -- everybody's seen it for 100 years in racing: money buys speed. The teams with the most money, with the most resources, with all the right tools and right people, and that can afford the right people and the right parts and pieces, are successful. This is a huge step in that direction."

From Smithfield's perspective, the relationship with RPM was successful in helping to connect its brand with NASCAR fans, and justified the increased financial commitment. "Our results completely validate our participation," said Larry Pope, the company's president and chief executive officer.

Almirola finished 18th in Sprint Cup points last season, after a promising early stretch that saw him record four consecutive top-10 finishes, a first for the No. 43 car since Bobby Hamilton did it in 1996. But it was that meeting with Weber back in his Nationwide days that really helped him, and later RPM, gain traction with Smithfield. The Tampa native took over RPM's No. 9 car for five races after Kasey Kahne left the team in late 2010. Later when RPM was in talks with Smithfield about prospective sponsorship, the company was pleased to learn that Almirola was in the Petty fold.

By 2012, Almirola was driving a No. 43 car that had Smithfield brands on the hood for much of that season, and the relationship has blossomed from there. "I think Aric kind of epitomizes what Richard stands for," Moffitt said, "... and that's what Smithfield was looking for."

For Almirola, the increased sponsor commitment means perhaps his best shot yet at putting the No. 43 back into Victory Lane for the first time since John Andretti did it at Martinsville Speedway in the spring of 1999. With a better-funded vehicle underneath him, there's now pressure to get it done -- but pressure that the 29-year-old welcomes, because he knows the promise it entails.

"I'll gladly take the pressure that comes with it," he said, "because if there's no pressure, that means you're not competitive. And if I'm not going to be competitive, I don't want to do this. I l want to race, I want to win. I don't get excited about playing board games unless I think I can have a chance to win. So I think it's a great opportunity for me to go out and have a chance to be extremely successful. And I welcome the pressure, because that means I have all the tools and the people that I need to go out to be successful, and it's up to me and my crew chief and my guys to go out and get that done."