Aric Almirola

Birthday: March 14, 1984
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RECAP

2007 -- Finished 52nd in series points. ... Competed in six races in a part-time role. ... Made series debut March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, starting 31st and finishing 41st. ... Top finish was 26th at Phoenix International Raceway in November.... Also competed in 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series events in '07, recording one win (at The Milwaukee Mile), two top-fives, six top-10s and three poles. ... Started three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. ... Was granted his release from Joe Gibbs Racing on July 18 to join Ginn Racing, which merged later with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Competed in nine NASCAR Nationwide Series events in '06, winning one pole. ... Competed in four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2005, with two top-five finishes and two DNFs. ... Debuted as a member of JGR's diversity program in 2004, racing late models at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C. ... Finished with two wins, six top-fives and 15 top-10s. ... Followed that campaign by competing at other Southeastern late-model events. ... Raced open-wheel modifieds in the Sunbelt Super Lake Model Division in '02 and '03, finishing as rookie of the year runner-up in '02. ... In '03, won three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Fla., two poles at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and one pole at Bronson (Fla.) Speedway. ...Won rookie of the year titles in two modified divisions in 2000 -- Florida Modified and the Southern Automobile Racing Association. Captured first career win at the Joslin Memorial 100 at Orlando (Fla.) Speedworld. ... In 1998, qualified on the pole for the World Karting Association Grand Nationals at Daytona Beach (Fla.) Municipal Stadium. Finished fourth in season standings.

NOTEWORTHY

Began racing go-karts at age of 8. ... Began racing open-wheel modifieds at age of 16. ... Of Cuban descent. ...Was introduced to racing by his maternal grandfather, Sam Rodriguez. ... Father, Ralph, came to the U.S. during the Cuban Freedom Flights of the mid-1960s.