During Wednesday’s edition of NASCAR RaceHub, it was announced that Paulie Harraka and Wauters Motorsports have parted ways, effective immediately. Aric Almirola has been tapped to drive the #5 Ford in Friday night’s Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200. Harraka has missed the last two races as Wauters Motorsports decided to regroup instead of traveling to Michigan and Bristol. Harraka’s rookie year has been a struggle up to this point. In 11 starts, Harraka’s best finishes have been a pair of 17ths at Dover and Kentucky. Crashes have plagued Harraka’s season as well, with all four of his DNF’s due to wrecks. In addition, Harraka was involved in wrecks in two additional races. These incidents, like the one at Pocono, have spoiled good runs. As a result, Harraka is currently 22nd in drivers points, while the No. 5 is 24th in owners’ points.(Frontstretch Newsletter)(8-30-2012)
UPDATE: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Aric Almirola will pilot the #5 Jordan Truck Sales – Courtesy Ford Wauters Motorsports F150 Friday night in the Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Almirola has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins with Richie Wauters as the crew chief (Dover, Michigan 2010) and three previous starts at Atlanta’s tricky, high-speed quad-oval in the series, with a best finish of third-place position in 2010. Wauters, in his tenure as a crew chief, has had tremendous success at the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway, boasting four wins, five top-5, and seven top-10 finishes in 12 starts at the Hampton, Georgia track. Sponsors of the #5 Ford F150, Jordan Truck Sales & Courtesy Ford, are based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Rimrock Design, Lake City, Florida and Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center, Georgia will also be on the NASCAR truck for Friday nights event.(Wauters Motorsports PR) [Rendering of the #5-Jordan Truck Sales/Courtesy Ford/Wauters Motorsports Ford is posted on the #5 NCWTS 2012 Paint Schemes page.](8-30-2012)
