aric almirola

Almirola began racing when he was eight years old, racing go-karts. At 14, he began racing nationally. He won the pole position in his debut in the World Karting Association race and finished fourth in the standings that year. Two years later, he moved up into modifieds and won several Rookie of the Year awards.

In 2002, Almirola moved to the NASCAR Sun Belt Weekly Racing Division and finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings. He followed that up with five pole positions in 2003. In 2004, he became one of the first drivers to participate in NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. He also signed with Joe Gibbs Racing as a development driver under a partnership with former NFL player Reggie White. Almirola ran the season at Ace Speedway, and won two races before finishing 11th in the points standings. He won five more races at the track in 2005, and made his Truck Series debut with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and had two top-tens in four races.

Joe Gibbs Racing

For 2006, Almirola drove the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevy for Spears Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, as part of the JGR development program. He started every race and had three top-ten finishes, including a best finish of ninth, ending the season 18th. That season, he also drove nine races in the Busch Series for Gibbs in the #19 Husqvarna/Banquet Foods Chevrolet Monte Carlo. His best finish was an eleventh at Dover International Speedway. He also served as a test driver for Gibbs teammates J. J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin when their Nextel Cup and Busch Series schedules conflicted.

Almirola moved up to the Busch series on a regular basis in 2007, driving the #18 and #20 Chevys for Joe Gibbs, driving each car in ten races apiece. He won his second career pole award for the Orbitz 300 at Daytona, and the first he actually took the green flag after winning a pole, as his first pole at Milwaukee, he was forced to relieve the driving duties over to Denny Hamlin. He again won the pole at Milwaukee in 2007, but thought he was going to give up driving duties to Hamlin again. A late team decision allowed Almirola to start the race due to Hamlin not arriving before the start of the race. On lap 59, during a caution period, because of sponsor commitments, Hamlin took over for Almirola while he was running in the third place. Hamlin went on to win the race, but Almirola was credited with his first NASCAR Busch Series win because he was the driver who started the race. Almirola did not participate in team victory celebrations after the race as he had already left the track. He asked for, and was granted his release from Joe Gibbs racing a month later.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

Almirola's #40 Nationwide car in 2009

Following the incident at Milwaukee, Almirola departed Joe Gibbs Racing to join Dale Earnhardt, Inc. following the sale of Ginn Racing. He drove the #01 Chevy in five races in 2007, and had a best finish of thirtieth. Almirola was named co-driver of the #8 United States Army Chevy in the 2008 Sprint Cup, sharing the ride with Mark Martin. His best finish to date is an 8th place finish in the 2008 Food City 500 at Bristol, and his best career start in Sprint Cup is a 3rd place start at the 2008 Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville. Almirola was named the full-time driver of the #8 for the 2009 season.^[1] Seven races into the 2009 season, Almirola lost his ride to a lack of sponsorship. He later signed a five-race deal with Key Motorsports to drive their #40 StopRepairBills.com/Westerman Companies Chevrolet Impala SS in the Nationwide Series. He returned to the Truck Series, driving part-time in the #15 Graceway Pharmaceuticals Silverado, and had a seven-race streak of finishes eighth or better. He also made one attempt and one race in the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series. In October 2009, he filed paperwork in North Carolina Superior Court indicating that he has a breach-of-contract dispute with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. Almirola, competed in seven Sprint Cup races in 2009 for the team before his #8 Chevy car was parked because of a lack of sponsorship, filed the notice in the Charlotte court. He dropped the lawsuit a month later.

2010 and Future

For 2010, he was to drive full time for Phoenix Racing's #09 Cup series Chevrolet Impala.^[2] However he was not eligible to drive the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, even though the car in which Brad Keselowski won at Talladega a year ago. Almirola will also drive the #51 Graceway Pharmecuticals/ AK Awareness Toyota Tundra for Billy Ballew in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In April, Almirola parted ways with Phoenix Racing to focus on his Truck Series ride. Aric attempted the Aarons 499 at Talladega in #35 Tommy Baldwin Racing/Mohawk Chevrolet but failed to qualify after qualifying was rained out by NASCAR. Almirola won his first race in the Camping World Truck Series at Dover International Speedway and won again at Michigan International Speedway, holding off Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch.

Hendrick Motorsports named Almirola a standby driver for the #48 team should Jimmie Johnson have to exit or miss races due to upcoming birth of Johnson's daughter ^[3]. Almirola was not needed. In July 2010, Almirola was again a standby driver for Hendrick Motorsports at Pocono in case Jeff Gordon had to leave or miss the race due to the birth of Gordon's son.

JR Motorsports announced Almirola will drive the #88 car in 2011. He will race the car full time.

References

External links

Aric_Almirola

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aric almirola

Contents

Early career

Joe Gibbs Racing

Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

2010 and Future

References

External links

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