Almirola, who at present drives half time within the Xfinity Collection and serves as a driver coach at Joe Gibbs Racing, will drive the No. 16 Toyota for Hattori Racing Enterprises in Saturday’s race which is a part of NASCAR All-Star Weekend.
This occasion will mark Almirola’s first Truck begin since 2012. The NASCAR veteran has two wins, 19 high 5 and 38 high finishes in Truck competitors. His most up-to-date begin within the collection was a ninth-place end at Texas in 2012 driving for Richie Wauters.
“North Wilkesboro is a singular monitor, and it was undoubtedly totally different final 12 months with the previous and worn-out racing floor,” Almirola mentioned. “I believe it will likely be a totally totally different expertise this 12 months with the brand new pavement.”
Almirola competed in final 12 months’s All-Star Race actions, the primary to be hosted on the iconic monitor, whereas driving for Stewart-Haas Racing within the Cup Collection. He completed third within the All-Star Open qualifying race.
In his Truck Collection return this week, Almirola will reunite together with his former crew chief, Wauters.
“Getting again to the Truck collection with Richie has been one thing I’ve been trying ahead to since we first mentioned racing at North Wilkesboro a couple of months in the past,” Almirola mentioned.
Almirola has carved out a profitable profession in NASCAR, throughout all three nationwide collection – Cup, Xfinity and Vans. He owns three Cup wins in additional than 460 begins and completed as excessive as fifth within the collection standings in 2018. He additionally has 5 Xfinity wins.
“We’re excited to have Aric behind the wheel of our Toyota TRD Professional at North Wilkesboro. His expertise within the collection, significantly within the early days of his profession, will probably be invaluable,” mentioned workforce proprietor Shige Hattori.
“He understands the distinctive challenges of those autos and this historic monitor. Aric may even give us an awesome understanding of the place we’re at as a workforce and provides us some useful suggestions.”
