Martinsville, Va. (March 29, 2009) – Aric Almirola and the No. 8 Guitar Hero Metallica Team finished 37th at Martinsville after struggling with tire issues. The team saw a total of five right front tires blow during the duration of Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500.
Almirola and the No. 8 Guitar Hero Metallica Team looked to Martinsville Speedway as an opportunity to bring home a good finish. As the team prepared for the trip to Southwest Virginia it became evident that Mother Nature would make an appearance. The crews went to work on Friday and got through the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) practice. The rain would start soon after and continue into Saturday evening, washing out NSCS Qualifying, both Saturday practices, and the Camping World Truck Series race.
The 43-car field for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 would be set by NSCS Owner’s Points; the No. 8 Guitar Hero Metallica team would start 37th. The green flag waved and Almirola quickly started to work his way through the field, finding himself in 32nd position before the first caution flag of the race waved on lap 22. Almirola radioed the car was tight, so Crew Chief Doug Randolph called for right-side tires and a track bar adjustment. The No. 8 Team continued to fight an ill-handling race car through lap 100, as Almirola raced around 30th position.
It was on lap 134 that the team started to experience tire issues. Almirola radioed he was coming down pit road as the right front tire was flat. The No. 8 Team quickly went to work and gave the driver four tires. Luckily a caution flag waved on lap 138 allowing Almirola to stay out and get one of his laps back while most of the field came down pit road. As the race continued the team soon realized that there was an even bigger issue as they experienced four more right front tire failures. The tire’s beads were melting due to the extreme heat from the car’s brake system.
Almirola was unable to make up much ground on his own and the team would finish 37th, ten laps off the pace. The finish kept Almirola 37th in Owner’s Points, just 27 points outside of the top-35. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex Jr. finished 12th and 29th respectively.
Next weekend the Sprint Cup Series travels to the state of Texas for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Pre-race television coverage begins on Sunday, April 4 at 1:30 p.m. EST. on FOX. Radio coverage will be provided by the Performance Racing Network (PRN).
