Saturday
Pieces falling into place for JR Motorsports
Caught in the Catchfence™
Team co-owner Kelley Earnhardt said the team is close to filling out sponsorship for the No. 88 and will determine Danica Patrick’s races in the No. 7 Chevy after the IndyCar Series releases its schedule. Patrick is slated to drive approximately 13 races for JRM next year.
“We’re very close to wrapping up the sponsorship on the 88,” Earnhardt said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “It looks like we’ll definitely have GT Vodka back on board for a 15-race program. Our Unilever folks, we’re real close with them on about 12 to 15 races. That will leave us short four or six or eight, however the math works out on the 88. We’ve still got time to put stuff together for that car.”
Almirola, who had a brief stint in the Sprint Cup Series, sharing a ride in the No. 8 Chevrolet with Mark Martin at Dale Earnhardt Inc., jumped at the chance to drive for JRM.
“It was really easy for me,” Almirola said. “I had several other opportunities, but this was the opportunity that I looked at that I felt like, being 26 years old, I could wait a few more years before going to Cup and still be OK.
“I felt like this was the place where I needed to be to be able to prove that I can win races and run for a championship at the next level. I’ve been fortunate enough to do that this year (in the Camping World Truck Series), and I didn’t want to go too fast, too quick and end up like I was a couple years ago (without a full-time ride).”
Earnhardt acknowledged that Patrick has had difficulty getting up to speed in her six Nationwide starts to date.
Article Tags: Aric Almirola, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Danica Patrick, IZOD IndyCar® Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NCWTS, NNS, NSCS
