Nationwide Series - Almirola Leading The Way For JR Motorsports This Season

Daytona, August 31, 2011: A slow start for Aric Almirola season hasn’t derailed his plans of achieving a successful year and making the most of his opportunity with owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports.

Though Almirola has been ranked in the top 10 in points since the second race of the season he didn’t register his first top-five finish until Chicagoland, where he was fourth after capturing his first series pole since 2007.

Lack of consistency has kept the No. 88 team from challenging the leaders in the standings – until now. Almirola and crew chief Tony Eury Sr. have seemingly found what was missing, which has equaled five top-five finishes in the last seven races and a more manageable 58-point deficit to the standings leader. Also included in that span was an eighth-place at Watkins Glen; his best-ever finish on a road course.

He’s had one previous series start at Atlanta finishing 27th in 2007. He’ll team with Jamie McMurray, the defending Atlanta winner. McMurray will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet. He has two wins at Atlanta, including his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in 2002.