Aric Almirola on Tuesday signed a multiyear agreement to drive JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, beginning in 2011, multiple sources close to the team told ESPN.com. Sources said, too, that there’s a chance Almirola could run some races toward the end of 2010. JR Motorsports officials had no comment. Attempts to reach Almirola were unsuccessful. One year ago Almirola was unemployed, and told ESPN.com recently that he felt “cancerous” during the humbling attempt to find a ride. But after a breakthrough season in the Camping World Truck Series, during which he has two victories and ranks second in the point standings, he became a hot commodity this year.(ESPN.com)(8-18-2010)
UPDATE: JR Motorsports cemented an integral part of its future Wednesday by signing Aric Almirola to a multi-year driving contract for the company’s flagship No. 88 NASCAR Nationwide Series team starting in 2011, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today. A 26-year-old native of Tampa, Fla., Almirola has 32 career Nationwide Series starts, including one for JR Motorsports in which he finished third at O’Reilly Raceway Park in July. Almirola’s full-time duties as the No. 88 driver will officially begin in 2011, but he could potentially fill the seat in select races this season while he continues to run for a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.(JR Motorsports PR)(8-18-2010)
