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Tampa's Almirola Tops In Daytona Twin-150s Qualifying

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 11, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH — Tampa's Aric Almirola still needs full-season sponsorship for the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing No. 8 Chevy. If he keeps running like this, he's certainly going to attract some attention.

Aric Almirola, seventh fastest in Daytona 500 qualifying, continued to impress with the top speed in practice for today's Gatorade 150-mile duels. His drafting lap of 191.436 mph edged Matt Kenseth's 191.347 and Jeff Gordon's 191.335.

Defending 500 champion Ryan Newman, who had an outside pole for the second duel, will have to drop to the rear of the field after changing engines Wednesday. Michael Waltrip and Jamie McMurray also will have to start from the back after crashing their primary cars.

Rookie Joey Logano, who crashed early in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout while making his debut as Stewart's replacement, scraped the wall early in Wednesday's first practice.

The Duels are still called qualifying races, but only a few spots for Sunday's 51st Daytona 500 are open.

Martin Truex Jr. and Mark Martin locked up the front row in Sunday's timed trials. Another 33 drivers are guaranteed berths somewhere in the field under NASCAR's top-35 rule.

Bill Elliott, Tony Stewart and Travis Kvapil clinched spots with their qualifying speeds Sunday, and Terry Labonte is assured of getting in because of his former champion's provisional.

The top two finishers in each duel from outside the top 35 advance to the 500. Additional spots could be awarded on speed if Elliott, Stewart, Kvapil and/or Labonte make it in through the duels.

Lakeland's Joe Nemechek, Boris Said, Scott Riggs, Jeremy Mayfield, A.J. Almendinger, Brad Keselowski and Tony Raines are among those trying to get in.

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