Motor Sports Update
Another Career Race for Almirola at Kentucky
Sparta, KY (June 16, 2007) — After a career best finish at Nashville last week, Aric Almirola and the #20 Rockwell Automation / JGR team headed to the Kentucky Speedway for the Meijer 300. With a majority of the Nextel Cup Drivers at Michigan, it would give the Busch Drivers another weekend in the spotlight.
Almirola easily put the car in the top-ten during the first practice and second on the board in the second practice. Unfortunately an early draw for qualifying and the heat of the day changed the track on race day. Almirola would have to settle for the 21st starting position.
"The car was just way too loose," commented Almirola after his run. "Getting into the car, I really thought we had a shot at the pole, but both laps were just loose. I guess the track has changed from yesterday, but once the sun goes down and it cools a little bit, it should go back to the way it was. It will be fun coming through the field."
As the sun set and the track cooled, the green flag waived on the start of the race. After a couple early cautions, Almirola radioed in that the car was a little loose in the center of the corner but much better than qualifying. Just taking his time and running a steady pace, he began to climb the leaderboard as long green flag run ensued. By lap 65, cars began making their way to pit road for fuel and tires. On lap 69, while running 5th, Crew Chief Dave Rogers called for Almirola to pit. With a decent stop, Almirola returned to the track and settled into the 9th position.
The next caution of the evening flew for a single car accident in turn 2. Almirola followed the leaders to pit road for more tires & fuel. As the field prepared for the restart, Almirola radioed in that he might have a tire going down. As the crew got on the wall and readied for a pit stop, it appeared that one of the tires was just a little soft. Almirola was able to stay in field and maintain his top-ten position. After a long green flag run where Almirola maintained his position, his final pit stop would come on lap 150. With the car just a little tight, Rogers called for four tires and small wedge adjustment. The Rockwell Automation Pit Crew turned around their best stop of the night picking up five positions and returning the #20 car to the track in the 7th position. On the restart, the leaders wrecked leaving Almirola in the 4th position.
As four racers vied for the win, Almirola ran his fastest laps of the night. Easily keeping pace with the other cars, he was biding his time as the leaders raced door to door. As the run continued, the car became extremely loose and Almirola was forced just to hang on for a sixth place finish, his best finish in the Busch Series to date.
"We had a really good car tonight," said Almirola after the race. "We just had trouble getting it perfect. We put ourselves behind a little in qualifying, but we were able to make it up. It is hard to be upset with a top-ten, but when you are sitting there looking at the leaders knowing you have a chance to win a race, you want to. We didn’t have the perfect night, but I think one less caution and we easily finish in the top three."
This week the Busch Series heads to the home of Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee, WI. Denny Hamlin will be making the trip in on Saturday night from the Sonoma, CA where the Nextel Cup is racing. Aric Almirola will be handling setup and qualifying duties, where he won the pole last year while Denny was making his commute. The AT&T 250 is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
