‘Driver returns to site of career first NASCAR start’

Aric Almirola will return to the site of his first start in a top-tier NASCAR Touring Series this week at Memphis Motorsports Park piloting the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports NASCAR Camping World Truck Series truck.

Almirola made his career first start at the ¾-mile track in 2005; he has three total NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at the ¾-mile racetrack, one in the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports entry in 2007.  Billy Ballew Motorsports has 10 previous starts with a best finish of second in 2004.

The team will return with chassis No. 28 this weekend, the same truck that Almirola piloted in Milwaukee.

“I’m looking forward to taking this same truck to Memphis,” Almirola said.  “We had just a little body damage to be repaired and we’ll have a good start for practice in Memphis.”

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel in Memphis. It was the track I made my first NASCAR start at and had a decent run going. We’re bringing the same truck we raced in Milwaukee, which was really good.

Short track racing at Memphis is intense, and it’ll be under the lights. It’s always a good race with lots of action.”

The O’Reilly 200 is slated to begin Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 6:00pm ET and will be broadcast live on SPEED.