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Almirola's Solid Day Spoiled By Late Spin

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 16, 2009

DAYTONA BEACH - Rain was in the forecast all day at Daytona International Speedway but it couldn't have come at a worse time for the two Tampa Bay area drivers.

It was Tampa's Aric Almirola's wreck on Lap 146 that proved to be the last lap of racing while Zephyrhills' David Reutimann was beginning to make a move toward the top 10 when the Daytona 500 was called on Lap 152.

Both drivers struggled early in the race. Almirola, driving the No. 8 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet, started 11th but spun in Turn 3 on Lap 8. He was able to change tires and return before going a lap down but dropped to last in the field.

"We fought hard all day after being spun early on," Almirola said. "The guys worked really hard to get the splitter fixed after we were spun. We finally got the car running better and we started to make up some ground."

Almirola worked his way through the field and by Lap 145 had moved back into his original starting position. But just as he was headed toward the top 10, he got hit by Sam Hornish Jr. on Lap 146, sending Almirola spinning through the backstretch. He managed to keep his car from hitting anything else and got back on the pavement.

The rains came during the caution and Almirola finished 29th in his first career Sprint Cup start at Daytona.

"I just feel terrible for the guys," Almirola said. "We worked really hard the last few days and we really had some good success here in Daytona."

Almirola still doesn't have a full-season sponsorship. Guitar Hero has a deal with Earnhardt Ganassi to sponsor Almirola and teammate Martin Truex Jr. in some races this season. Almirola hopes his Daytona 500 performance will attract additional sponsorship.

"I'd really like to thank our partner Activision and Guitar Hero for their support," he said. "We'll get 'em in California."

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing co-owner Chip Ganassi said Friday that Almirola would compete in the first five races of the season but would not run a full season without additional sponsorship.

As for Reutimann, his No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota was out of the top 20 for most of the first 110 laps, but after the 10-car wreck on Lap 124 he moved into 15th place on Lap 130, and by the caution on Lap 146 he was 12th.

His 12th-place finish was Reutimann's best in five Sprint Cup races at Daytona. His previous best was 18th in last year's 500.

The Bay Area's other driver on the Sprint Cup circuit, Joe Nemechek, failed to qualify for the race.

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