NASCAR Cup Series

Almirola finds his way in NASCAR

Published Jul. 15, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Aric Almirola almost had it all — but things just kept taking bad turns for him.

First there was a dream ride with an established team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He shared driving duties with Mark Martin at Ginn Racing, which merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and planned to put Almirola in the car full time in 2009 after a merger with Chip Ganassi Racing. But sponsorship woes left him sidelined after just seven races that season.

Then there was is his first career Nationwide Series win, which came at Milwaukee Mile in 2007. Problem is, Almirola didn’t get to enjoy taking the checkered flag. After a strong start in the race, he was replaced by the late-arriving Denny Hamlin with whom he shared the ride. Hamlin continued Almirola’s run and earned the win, but because he started the event, he was the driver of record and therefore the official race winner.

For Almirola, once viewed as a young and rising star, the setbacks must have been tough to take. But he’s made the most of each opportunity that he could — and, at 26, could easily be viewed as a young and rising star once more.

This year he is competing in the Camping World Truck Series, where he’s won two races for team owner Billy Ballew, and he was the driver selected to be on standby for Jimmie Johnson in recent weeks as Johnson awaited the birth of his first child. Almirola shared Hendrick’s No. 48 with Johnson in practices at New Hampshire, something that once more showed the respect he garners inside the garage.

Johnson’s wife, Chandra, gave birth during the week prior to the race at Chicago, so Almirola is back to his normal duties this weekend.

Although the wretched timing that doomed some of his potential career moves could have caused some to give up, Almirola continues with perhaps even more dogged determination than in the past.

He doesn’t deny, though, the scars of those career potholes.

“It was extremely difficult,” he said. “You know, I felt like my dreams had been dashed. I felt like I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel for a few weeks. I didn't give up on my dreams. I didn't give up on racing. But I didn't know what was next. I had no idea.

“I felt like I was in the best position possible. I felt like I was with a good organization. All of a sudden the economy hit and we didn't have a sponsor. Next thing I knew, I didn't have a job. So that was really tough for me.”

That door opened to Ballew, one of the most successful owners in the Truck series these days.

And Almirola has fully taken advantage of the opportunity. Since 2006, he’s run 23 Nationwide Series races, for Joe Gibbs Racing and Key Motorsports and 30 Cup races, most for the Ginn/DEI/Earnhardt Ganassi Racing group. When he hooked up with Billy Ballew Motorsports for part of the 2009 season, though, things really started to come together for the driver. This season, things have really taken off.

In the opening 10 races, Almirola has won twice. He has seven top-10 finishes, three of them top-fives. He sits second in the points standings, trailing Todd Bodine by 88 heading into this weekend’s race at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

The success, Almirola admits, has probably enhanced his image as a competitor. It also seems to have helped him regain his footing and overcome some of his career disappointments.

“It's been very gratifying,” Almirola says.

He is thankful for the opportunity to be back in racing on a full-time basis.

Only time will tell if this will once more open the door to the Cup series. While Almirola admits he still harbors hopes in that direction, he also seems content to be where he is right now — to have finally come full circle and have a chance with a top-notch NASCAR team.

“I've learned in this sport you never know,” he says. “You can't expect anything. You can't feel like you deserve anything. ... Everything is very rewarding when it does happen.

“With this sport, things change at a moment's notice. So I've learned to not hang my hat on too many things; make sure that I keep digging, don't take anything for granted. I love where I'm at right now with my career. I love going to the racetrack and winning races and being competitive. So as long as I can continue to do that in whatever series I race in, I'll be happy.”