Drivers
- Car: No. 75 FedEx Spears Motorsports Silverado
- Team: Spears Motorsports
- Crew Chief: Dave McCarty
- Birth Date: March, 14, 1984
BIOGRAPHY
Aric Almirola will be a member of the Rookie of the Year contenders in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series behind the wheel of the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado. In 2005, he started four NCTS races in a Silverado and scored a remarkable two top-10 finishes. He competed regionally in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series in 2004 and 2005 capturing 10 victories in late model competition.
The Tampa, Florida native began racing go-karts when he was eight years old. After winning races and local titles, Almirola took his talent to the national Karting scene in 1998. He quickly made his presence known, qualifying on the pole for the World Karting Association Grand Nationals at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium before finishing fourth in the season-ending point standings.
At 16, Almirola graduated to racing open-wheel modifieds. By 2000, he won the Rookie of the Year title in two separate modified divisions - Florida Modified and SARA (Southern Automobile Racing Association) Modified, while garnering his first career win in the Joslin Memorial 100 at the Orlando Speedworld, beating the top drivers in Florida, many of whom were twice his age.
In March 2002, Almirola advanced from open-wheel modifieds to the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division, where he finished runner-up in the Rookie of the Year standings. Almirola continued in that division in 2003, winning three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Fla., two poles at New Smyrna Speedway and one pole at Bronson Speedway.
In 2004, Aric got the opportunity to be one of two drivers to pioneer the Joe Gibbs Racing/Reggie White Drive for Diversity Program by driving the #20 Home Depot Late Model Chevrolet in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC. Aric ran a full season at the Ace Speedway finishing 11th in points for the season with two wins, one 2nd-place finish and six top-five finishes. In his third season, he will compete in the NASCAR Late Model Series in the #92 car in honor of Reggie White, co-founder of the Drive for Diversity program who passed away on Dec. 26, 2004.
"I pride myself on being more than just a driver," said Almirola, who studied mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida before moving to North Carolina. "Along with my crew, I've built every race car that I've ever driven from a bare chassis. This opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing is awesome, and I plan on making the most of it."
In July 2005, Aric made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park, racing for Morgan Dollar Motorsports in partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing. Aric made such an impression with everyone from both teams that they signed him up to drive a second race, just a few weeks later, at Indianapolis Raceway Park. In just his second race, Almirola finished an impressive 10th.
The future looks bright for this Diversity Driver.
TRACK STATS
2005 NASCAR Busch Series Season
- Highlights:
- Two top-ten finishes
