Last season Aric Almirola joined Richard Petty Motorsports to start his first full Nascar season. Almirola followed that up by racing in 36 races. Aric only found the top 10 4 times last season but that doubled his career total before that (2). Also in 2012 he notched his 2nd career top 5, a 4th place finish at Martinsville in the Fall (during the Chase). He ended last season with an average finishing position of 20.0 and he also finished 20th in the Sprint Cup Standings. Overall he had a pretty good season in his first full year with RPM.
The 2013 season started out the way he ended 2012, on the upswing. In the first four races he didn't finish outside 16th, yet he wanted more. In those four races another story wasn't being told, he didn't finish above 13th. Nascar entered Martinsville, the place where Aric had just finished top 5 late last year, and he had troubles and finished 37th. That has been his only real speed bump.
Well as of late Almirola has found what he was searching for at the beginning of the season. In the past four races Aric Almirola has had four straight top 10's. Those four top 10's already match his total from last season alone. Not only that, but he is sitting in a great position to make the Chase, 7th, and possibly get his first career Sprint Cup win.
If the rest of the season goes like his short career has with RPM then he will be in victory lane in no time and may get Richard Petty back into the Chase this season. The thing to watch is if he can find a dominate car on a week to week basis for long stretches. He will need to find a way to be a player for a win here and there to keep a safe spot at the Chase with guys like Gordon, Logano, and Newman on the outside looking in. So will he get in? Will he find career win #1? Hopefully we are reviewing these at the end of the season in Driver Spotlight Review.
2013 Career
Starts: 10 81
Wins: 0 0
Top 5: 0 2
Top 10: 4 10
Finish: 25.9 14.8
**6/2/13 Update: Since the original Spotlight came out on Almirola he has done nothing but go downhill. He lost his spot in the Chase and has yet to record another top 10 in a points race (3 races). He did however finish 7th in the ASR. After an 18th place finish at Dover his season is starting to hit a cross road. Aric sits 12th in the points standings but does not have a Chase spot due to the fact he does not have a win. The big question still will be can he get his first Sprint Cup Win this season and if he does can it help him get into the Chase?
No comments:
Post a Comment