Motorsports

Almirola nearing a move?

Summer vocation

By BRANT JAMES
Published July 17, 2007

Summer vocation

Tony Stewart's reputation as a second-half racer is well-earned, which is why he's so often a threat in the final months of the season. His Nextel Cup victory on Sunday at Chicagoland was his 18th after the mid point of the season. He has 30 wins in a nine-year Nextel Cup career.

Second-

half Season

Year victories total

2007 1 1

2006 3 5

2005 3 5

2004 1 2

2003 1 2

Second-

half Season

Year victories total

2002 1 3

2001 1 3

2000 4 6

1999 3 3

BY BRANT JAMES Times Staff Writer

Two weeks ago, Aric Almirola said that reports he would leave Joe Gibbs Racing's developmental program for Ginn Racing were "flattering," but completely baseless. ¶ The story could be changing. ¶ The Charlotte Observer reported in Monday's editions that Almirola, a 23-year old Tampa native, is set to join the three-car organization owned by Palm Coast developer Bobby Ginn, and would split time in the No. 01 Chevrolet with the semi-retired Mark Martin. The official announcement could be made as early as the Indianapolis race weekend later this month, according to the Observer. ¶ JGR president J.D. Gibbs has contended that Almirola was likely to eventually drive the fourth Nextel Cup car he hoped to field, but the team had difficulty maintaining a research and development program to give him Cup experience this year. Almirola, who has described his contract as "long term," could therefore not be assured his rookie Cup season was very close. ¶ Neither Almirola nor Ginn CEO Jay Frye returned calls Monday.

Beer brothers?

Kyle Busch, who will be released from his Hendrick Motorsports contract at the end of the season, toured Dale Earnhardt Inc. facilities recently, TNT reported on its broadcast. DEI president of global operations Max Siegel told the network he hoped to announce Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s replacement around the July 29 Brickyard 400 weekend.

Busch signing with DEI would intertwine several interesting threads:

- He would replace the man who took his job at Hendrick Motorsports.

- Assuming Budweiser stays with DEI - Hendrick announced it will not follow Earnhardt Jr. - both Busch brothers will be sponsored by beer companies. Busch's older brother, Kurt, replaced the retired Rusty Wallace with Penske Racing and Miller Lite, and has struggled to embody the beer crowd image. Kyle Busch would be in the same predicament, but the breweries' marketing firms would likely have some fun with the situation.

Sunday drive

Earnhardt Jr. apparently had a moment of clarity on Lap 148 at Chicago, saying over his team radio, for no apparent reason, "Sometimes I think about it, and I can't believe I'm a race car driver ..."

Racing never lets good feelings last long, however. His power steering failed about 60 laps later, forcing him to wrestle the No. 8 Chevrolet home in 19th place.

-Multi-series team owner Chip Ganassi had a strong weekend: Scott Dixon won in the IRL, and Ganassi's teams of Scott Pruett-Memo Rojas and Rob Finlay-Michael Valiante took the top two spots at Iowa Speedway in Daytona Prototypes in the Grand Am Series race. Pruett now holds the series record for driver wins with 14, and Ganassi has a record 15 series wins as an owner.

- Three-time defending Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais was eighth-fastest of 11 last week at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, in his third test for the Toro Rosso Formula One team. If a job offer is forthcoming, he expects it by the end of the month. ... Bourdais has committed to a fourth attempt at the Race of Champions multi-national, multi-sport spectacular, this season to be held at Wembley Stadium in London.

- The IRL lost a venue as Michigan International Speedway announced it will not host an event next season because a "viable" date could not be secured.

[Last modified July 16, 2007, 23:10:04]