Daytona: Aric Almirola preview

Daytona Beach, Florida (February 8, 2010)-Tampa, Florida native, Aric Almirola and Billy Ballew Motorsports head to Daytona International Speedway for the season opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday, February 12, 2010.

Almirola will pilot the No. 51 AkAwareness.com Graceway Pharmaceuticals®, LLC Toyota Tundra in 2010 after coming off a stellar 2009 series season with Billy Ballew Motorsports.

"Billy Ballew has worked really hard over the winter to secure Graceway Pharmaceuticals again as our primary sponsor," Aric Almirola said. "It really is a great opportunity that we have with Graceway's backing to race for a championship in 2010."

Almirola joined the team at Texas Motor Speedway competing in 16 events, posting seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. The 25 year-old driver recorded the closest margin of victory at Talladega Superspeedway, after pushing his Billy Ballew Motorsports teammate to the win, giving the team its first one-two finish in their 300th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.

Almirola has one previous NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, two Nationwide Series and one Sprint Cup Series starts on the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

"We're looking forward to starting the season off where we left off in 2009," Almirola said. "Our trucks are really strong and we are looking to visit victory lane as much as we can! Richie (Wauters) and all the guys have been working long hours to make sure our trucks are as good as they can be."

Billy Ballew Motorsports has had eight prior entries at the high-banked racetrack where the team has one-pole and two second-place finishes to their credit.

Almirola, of Cuban-American descent, grew up in nearby Tampa, Florida and always looks forward to going to Daytona International Speedway.

"Any chance I get to go to Florida to race, I'm excited," Almirola said! "Daytona is only two hours from Tampa; where I grew up; so all my family can come over and watch. When I was a kid, this was the track we came to. We always would drive over in February and July for the 500 and the Firecracker 400."

-source: billy Ballew motorsports