Billy Ballew Motorsports announced today a joint venture with Joe Gibbs Racing for the running of Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park..  The No. 51 FedEx Express Chevrolet Silverado will be piloted by NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series regular, Aric Almirola.

Almirola, a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, had four starts in the NCTS in 2005 and spent his full rookie season (2006) driving the No. 75 Spears Manufacturing Silverado.  During his two years in the series, he has 29 starts with five top-10 finishes.

Almirola had his first-ever NCTS start at the three-quarter mile Memphis Motorsports Park in 2005.  In 2006, Almirola earned his best start of 18th and his best finish of 21st. Ballew Motorsports has five previous starts at the Memphis, Tenn. track, posting their best start of sixth in 2002 and a best finish of fifth in 2004.

“I want to thank everyone at FedEx Express who has given me the opportunity to drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in Memphis for the past three years,” Almirola said.  “I appreciate their support and am thankful for the opportunity to drive the No. 51 FedEx Express Chevrolet Silverado.”

“I’m really excited to drive for Billy Ballew Motorsports this weekend,” Almirola said. “When Kyle (Busch) drives the truck, it is the truck to beat and we plan on going to Memphis with that same frame of mind that we will be the one to beat.  Billy Ballew, Richie Wauters and the rest of the team does an awesome job on these trucks and look forward to putting the FedEx Express Chevrolet Silverado in victory lane in Memphis.”

FedEx Express will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 51 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.

The O’Reilly 200 is slated to begin at Saturday, June 30th at 9:00pm ET.   SPEED will broadcast Bud Pole qualifying live beginning at 6:00pm ET with race coverage starting at 8:30pm ET.  MRN Radio and their affiliate stations begin live coverage at 9:00pm ET.

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