Aric Almirola admits some concern for 2009, plans full Cup season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Aric Almirola admits he is concerned about his team’s status for 2009, but says he’s been assured his ride will last for the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
The 24-year-old is scheduled to take over the driving duties of the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing No. 8 Chevrolet for 2009 after sharing the ride a year ago with veteran Mark Martin.
“I talked with [co-owners] Teresa [Earnhardt] and Chip [Ganassi] both,” Almirola said Saturday during the annual Sprint Sound and Speed fan festival, “and we’re committed to running the full season ... they say, ‘Come hell or high water, we’re going to race.’”
Earnhardt Ganassi, previously two individual groups fielding a combined six entries in Cup competition, merged to form a new group which will attempt to field four teams this season. But sponsorship is solid for only two of the four cars – the No. 1 of Martin Truex Jr. with Bass Pro Shops and the No. 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya, which could carry sponsorship from Wrigley and Target.
Which leaves two teams, including that of Almirola, still looking for funding with the start of the season barely a month away. Doug Randolph has been hired to serve as crew chief, and several members of the crew have come from the DEI No. 15 team that lost both driver and sponsor at season’s end.
“We’re trying to find money, but it’s tough, it really is,” he said. “There are a lot of teams that are going after the same sponsors. It’s a
brutal market out there right now. ... They’re low-balling each other and taking a lot less.
“It’s a shame, too, because our car finished 14th in owner points last year. You look at that, and it makes you wonder what in the heck is going on. We have an awesome race team, we have cars capable of running up front every single weekend and it’s tough. It’s tough to get sponsors right now, tough to get anybody to spend money.”
Ganassi began the 2008 season with three Cup teams, but shut one early in the year when sponsorship couldn’t be obtained. Almirola says he doesn’t believe the same fate will befall his team.
“How could it not be [a concern]?” he asked. “It’s like saying you’ve only got three dollars in your bank account. Wouldn’t that concern you? Absolutely.
“It’s very disheartening; it’s a shame because we have a really good race team. It’s disappointing to go into the Daytona 500 uncertain about 2009 but we’re not alone.”
Almirola has 18 career Cup starts in two seasons, with a best finish of eighth at Bristol in 2008.
