NASCAR driver makes detour through Homestead

by Senior Airman Aja Heiden
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/16/2014 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla.  -- NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver, Aric Almirola, visited Homestead Air Reserve Base on his way to Chicagoland Speedway to participate in the "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" on  Sept 10.

While visiting here, Almirola worked with members of the Homestead Air Reserve Fire Department in a live fire exercise.

"My dad was a fire fighter, so to be able to share this experience with my dad is really cool," said Almirola.

Almirola has strong ties to Florida and the Air Force community. He was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, while his dad served in the military.

Almirola got a chance to partake in crew chief duties, an honor few receive. He also witnessed an F-16C take-off from the flight line.

"To stand 15 feet way from an F-16 at take-off is unbelievable, "said Almirola. "I never knew how much work goes into getting a plane off the ground."

Almirola said he has always had a passion for racing cars. He spoke about his early memories growing up in Daytona, home to the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR.

"As a child I was at Disney World for 4-5 days, but all I cared about was the one day at the Daytona race," said Almirola, driver of racecar 43, a Richard Petty Motorsports Ford.

Airmen were selected to have lunch with Almirola at the Community Activity Center here.

"It was awesome," said Senior Airman Maegan Chewning, 482nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. "I didn't know the Air Force sponsored a NASCAR driver. He seemed like a nice guy, I was so excited to get a photo with him."

The Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series for NASCAR.

The Challenger Round is composed of 16 drivers who will compete at Chicagoland Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway for the 12 spots available in the Contender Round.

The Contender Round will include races at Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway for the eight spots available in the next round, known as the Eliminator Round.

At the Eliminator Round the remaining eight drivers will compete at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway for the four spots available in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford EcoBoost 400 on  Nov. 16.