Krista Voda: Aric Almirola battles through adversity, makes most of opportunity
COMMENTARY
When one door closes, another one opens...
It’s been the story of Aric Almirola’s young racing career.
Almirola, 25, is a native of Tampa, Fla., and of Cuban descent. As he heads back to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season-ending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford 200, Almirola can reflect back on a year filled with ups and downs. It began with a full-time opportunity in the Sprint Cup Series driving for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, where sponsorship woes forced the organization to shutter its No. 8 operation.
Almirola subsequently joined forces with Billy Ballew Motorsports, piloting a second truck for Ballew and serving as teammate to Kyle Busch. He made the best of his situation, racking up nine top-10s and six top-fives in 14 starts heading into last week’s race at Phoenix.
At Talladega, and on Halloween, Almirola pushed Busch to victory and matched his season-best finish of second after a runner-up effort in the inaugural Camping World Truck Series race in September at Iowa Speedway.
Two years ago, Almirola “won” a Nationwide Series race in Milwaukee but not before being replaced by then Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.
Almirola, a product of JGR’s diversity program, believes he has matured professionally and personally as a result of his trials and tribulations in the sport.
“What I’ve gone through in my five or so years of racing has taught me to handle setbacks, and to take [opportunity] in a different direction,” he says.
After the Nov. 6 Truck series race at Texas, Almirola took the opportunity to ask longtime girlfriend Janice Goss to marry him. Goss said yes, so Almirola finds himself at a great place in his personal life.
Heading back home now betrothed, Almirola will look to complete his season with a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. First, though, Almirola vows to grab a Cuban sandwich and soak up some of the Latin culture so prevalent in South Florida.
Almirola doesn’t speak much Spanish, but his grandparents do – exclusively. His father, Ralph, came to America from Cuba at the age of 4. He didn’t speak English, either, but was determined that Aric would to ensure no educational setbacks. Almirola knows while his dad had his best interests at heart, it probably would benefit him more today if he was a bit more bilingual.
That’s OK, though.
Cuando una puerta se cierra, otra se abre.
Translation?
When one door closes, another one opens.
Krista Voda hosts the popular SPEED prerace show, "NCWTS Setup", leading into each NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Voda is also a regular host on The SPEED Report and serves as a pit reporter for NASCAR on Fox coverage of the Sprint Cup Series.
