Winning a race was never so disappointing

Aric Almirola started, but never finished the Busch
AT&T 250.

McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Disappointment, frustration and anger have given way to acceptance, understanding and even a little bit of humor for Aric Almirola in the days since his hollow first victory in the NASCAR Busch Series.

The 22-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver started the AT&T 250 Saturday night at the Milwaukee Mile, only to be yanked after 59 laps once Nextel Cup regular Denny Hamlin arrived.

“There’s days that I’ve run around in 37th, wishing somebody would please, please, please ask to relief drive for me and I could get out,” Almirola said Wednesday in his first comments to reporters.

“Those are the days that that would never happen.”

How it works

By NASCAR rule, the points, prize money and recorded finish go to the driver who starts the race, not necessarily the one who takes the checkered flag.

Almirola was scheduled to practice and qualify, and Hamlin was to arrive from California in time to race. But when Hamlin’s helicopter couldn’t land at State Fair Park, Almirola said that the team “panicked.”

Under the second caution flag — after Hamlin had contemplated driving another car in relief of ailing Steve Wallace — crew chief Dave Rogers radioed instructions to Almirola to turn the car over.

“When he first asked me to get out, my first response was, ‘Are you kidding?”’ Almirola said. “That’s when he got pretty emotional, and he was like, ‘No, man, I wish I was kidding you, but I’m not.’ ”

Almirola spoke briefly with Rogers, and the team and said he was not upset with them but with the “crappy situation.” He then left the track to avoid doing or saying something he would regret.

Secondary motive

The drivers and team continue to describe the swap as a group decision, but they have acknowledged the influence of sponsor Rockwell Automation.

Gibbs’ contract with the Milwaukee-based company expires at the end of the season. Teams can more easily sell sponsorships for Nextel Cup drivers in the Busch Series than for a relative newcomer because of the additional recognition their car is likely to receive.

The team brought Hamlin in to “thank” Rockwell, team President J.D. Gibbs said Sunday, and to encourage the company to return to sponsor Almirola next season.

“They were the ones that sort of got the black eye out of the situation, a little bit,” Almirola said. “It was kind of disappointing because everything that we had geared up to do and had tried to do was to make Rockwell Automation happy.”

Mature reaction

Almirola initially interpreted the decision as a lack of confidence in him, but not even in the moments immediately following did he think about quitting, he said. He felt better after meeting with Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs on Monday and after receiving supportive phone calls from other drivers.

In retrospect, Almirola would have liked to have joined his team in victory lane rather than have watched on television as they celebrated. Some discussion has taken place regarding possession of the trophy, Almirola said, but if it lands in his hands, he’ll house it at the Gibbs shop as a testament to teamwork.

“I feel like I was a part of it, but by no way, shape or form do I feel like that was my first victory,” Almirola said.

“I feel like my first victory is still to come, and I’ll get that, and I’ll actually be in the car when it crosses the start-finish line.”