On Friday, #9-Aric Almirola will be joined at the track by his paternal grandmother, Eneida Almirola, whose visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark the first time she’s ever been to a race track in her entire life. Abuela Eneida, a Cuban native, first came to the United States in 1966 with her husband, Rafael, and their two sons, Rafael Jr. (Almirola’s father) and Robert. Their family was granted access to fly from Cuba to America on the Freedom Flights that brought them into Miami. Once they landed they were given $100 to make a new life for themselves in the United States — $50 for being a married couple and $25 for each child. They eventually settled in Tampa, Fla., where Almirola’s Abuelo Ralph opened a TV repair business. Abuela Eneida will be joined at the track by both of her sons as well.(RPM PR)(11-18-2010)
