Freshrubber Blog

                                                                                                                                                              Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Drivers and crew members were quick-stepping through an emptying garage area about an hour before the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night, and Aric Almirola was on the hunt. He stopped to pat a shoulder at the Red Bull hauler, waved to a Penske crewman, chatted up Michael Waltrip Racing general manager Ty Norris. “Looking for a job, man,” the 25-year-old Tampa native said. “At least nobody is shooing me away.” This was supposed to be Almirola’s first full season at NASCAR’s highest level, as Mark Martin’s replacement in the No. 8 Chevrolet at Dale Earnhardt Inc. But as the economy sunk, DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing, their five combined Cup programs withered to two, and sponsorship for the No. 8 car ran out after seven races. Earnhardt/Ganassi could have an opening in 2009 if, as expected, Martin Truex announces this week he will leave for MWR, but Almirola said he had not spoken with Ganassi about it. “That’s not up to me,” he said. “Those have been internal discussions that really have not involved me. Whatever happens I will be ready, race there or race somewhere else.” — St. Petersburg Times