|
 |
|
|
|
|
Milwaukee: Aric Almirola NASCAR Truck Race Recap
In his first race for Key Motorsports, driver Aric Almirola gave the team a solid finish and a huge points boost at The Milwaukee Mile. With stout driver performance, fast pit stops, and effective adjustments, Key matched its best finish of the season, and Almirola scored an 11th place finish in his 2009 NNS debut.
Aric Almirola took the green flag 20th after laying down a lap time of 29.989 seconds, but despite the solid effort, driver and team were both disappointed with what they anticipated would be an even stronger qualifying run. For 73 laps Almirola struggled with a very tight race car, hovering around his starting position while the team anxiously awaited an opportunity to adjust on the No. 40 StopRepairBills.com Chevrolet.
|
|
|
When green flag pit stops began, the Key Motorsports team got its first chance to pit, calling the No. 40 down pit road for four tires, fuel, and major air pressure adjustments. When Almirola hit the track after the quick stop, he stated that it was like driving a brand new car, and he instantly began a steady march to the front of the pack.
By lap 83, Almirola had worked his way into the top-15, advancing from 19th to 13th in only two laps. On lap 120 Almirola passed pole sitter and frontrunner Erik Darnell for 10th. When the first caution flag of the night flew on lap 125, Almirola pitted with the leaders and maintained his position through another speedy stop by the Key Motorsports crew.
Once again the caution was good for the No. 40 StopRepairBills.com Chevy, as Almirola swiftly advanced to the 8th position by lap 132. For the next 80 laps Almirola ran competitively with the leaders, maintaining a position within the top-10.
Cooling track temperatures changed the No. 40’s handling slightly as the evening went on, eventually causing Almirola to slide back to 12th with 31 laps remaining. Almirola fought hard against his competitors, earning back one more position before crossing the start/finish line just outside the top-10.
Aric Almirola’s 11th place finish bumped Key Motorsports up to 26th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner points, locking the No. 40 into the upcoming race in Loudon, New Hampshire. Scott Wimmer will return to pilot the StopRepairBills.com Chevy in this weekend’s race.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series hits the track on Saturday, June 27th in the Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
RECAP:
Date: June 20, 2009
Track: The Milwaukee Mile
Event Name: NorthernTool.com 250
Start: 20th
Finish: 11th
Laps Completed: 250/250
Laps Led: 0
Owner Point Standings: 26th
Money Earned: $17,775
NEXT ON SCHEDULE:
Date: June 27, 2009
Track: The New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Event Name: Camping World RV Sales 200 Presented By Turtle Wax
TV: ABC, 2:30 PM ET
Radio: PRN, 2:30 PM ET
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
