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-DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 5, 2009) –As the season winds down, better keep an eye on Aric Almirola in the No. 15 Toyota. The Florida native might just be the next to wind up in Victory Lane.

Almirola has made 11 starts since teaming up with Billy Ballew Motorsports at Texas in June. In those 11 races, he’s collected five top-five and three top-10 finishes. His best finish was runner-up to veteran Mike Skinner (No. 5 PC*MILER Toyota) in the series’ inaugural race at Iowa Speedway.

“I’m very thankful for Billy Ballew and the opportunity he’s provided me to get back on the race track and continue to prove myself in the sport,” said Almirola. “I truly look forward to every weekend I go to the track in one of these trucks because I really feel every time we have a chance to win.”

While considered one of the series’ “younger” competitors, Almirola is no rookie when it comes to racing in the NCWTS and NASCAR. He made his series debut in 2005 at Memphis and ran the full 2006 season in the No. 75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet for Spears Motorsports with a best finish of ninth at Lowe’s. He has 44 total series starts. At Las Vegas, Almirola notched his 100th career NASCAR start.  

“I’m by no means a rookie anymore in this series, but still feel I learn every weekend from the veterans. At tracks that I have a few hundred laps at, guys like Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Copart Chevrolet), Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) and Mike Skinner, they have a few thousand laps. I have a lot of respect for the veterans in the truck series, and I hope that when I’m pushing 50 years old, I’m still racing hard week-in and week-out and going to Victory Lane.”  

“I’ve had a lot of fun racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and racing with these guys. It’s extremely competitive and you can’t take anything for granted.”

NASCAR Media.