Catchfence

Las Vegas, NV (Sept.,27, 2009)- Aric Almirola in his 100th start in NASCAR’s Top-Three Premiere Touring Series posted an eighth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Almirola placed the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort/Graceway Pharmaceuticals Billy Ballew Motorsports NASCAR Camping World Truck in the 20th position for the running of the Las Vegas 350. Almirola didn’t stay in the position long, advancing to the 15th-place position by the first caution on lap three.

Almirola continued to advance through the field driving two and three-wide on the track moving into the eighth-place position by lap 12. He reported in that the right front tire was “pushing”; coming down pit road on lap 24 for four fresh Goodyear tires returning for fuel on lap 25, restarting in the seventh-place position on lap 26.

The air pres sure adjustments on the stop wasn’t beneficial for Almirola as he reported that the truck was “tight on exit and free everywhere else on the track”. The Miccosukee Resort/Graceway Pharmaceuticals team brought him back down pit road on lap 51 for tires and fuel. Almirola filed out in the 14th position for the restart.

Almirola immediately began advancing through the field into the top-10 despite reporting that the truck was very “loose”. In spite of the condition Almirola was able to battle through the hornets’ nest of trucks around him.

A long green flag run forced green-flag pit stops, shuffling the field moving Almirola into the third-place position. The team made their green-flag pit stop on 117 for fuel and a track bar adjustment to tighten up the Tundra.

Just after the cycle of pit stops a caution fell on lap 119, Almirola returned to the pits to take on four tires filing out for the restart on lap 123 in the 10th-place position. Almirola reported that the truck was “plowing” with the new set of tires, but with only 23-laps remaining in the race the team knew they would not be returning to pit road. Almirola using talent and skill was able to pick up two positions, posting an eighth-place finish for the No. 51 Miccosukee Resort/Graceway Pharmaceuticals team.

Almirola has posted seven top-10 finishes for Billy Ballew Motorsports in 10 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2009.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes a much needed break after a six race stretch and will return to action at Martinsville Speedway, Saturday, October 24, 2009.

For more information on Billy Ballew Motorsports and Aric Almirola please visit www.BillyBallewMotorsports.com and www.AricAlmirola.com.

- Billy Ballew Motorsports Press Release