Notebook: Gibbs reiterates support for upset Almirola

SONOMA, Calif. -- J.D. Gibbs left a telephone message for Aric Almirola. As of Sunday morning, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had yet to return the team president's call.

That's how angry Almirola was after a mid-race driver switch in Saturday night's Busch event at The Milwaukee Mile, which left the 22-year-old fuming rather than celebrating in Victory Lane. Almirola was leading the race when Nextel Cup regular Denny Hamlin arrived late from Infineon Raceway, but was pulled from the car and never saw his replacement record a win that will officially be credited to him (watch video).

It takes two

Aric Almirola started the race in the No. 20, but Denny Hamlin finished it ... and won.

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"He's upset," Gibbs said Sunday before the Toyota/Save Mart 250. "I left a message for him [Saturday] night. I know he's upset. I would be too if I'm in his shoes. At the same time, I think he knows he's like a younger brother. He's like family."

Hamlin was scheduled to start the race at Milwaukee, the hometown of car sponsor Rockwell Automation. But the track's helipad had been converted into a parking lot, forcing Hamlin's helicopter to divert to a nearby airport. Almirola jumped in the car and led 43 of 57 laps before his crew ordered him to the pits so Hamlin could take over.

Rockwell clearly wanted Hamlin in the car. Gibbs said the entire reason Hamlin was flown from Sonoma to Milwaukee was to thank the sponsor, which was among the Busch team's first backers.

"I told those guys as a group, if you think Denny can get in the car and win the race, let's go. Let's do that," Gibbs said "If you don't think he can do that, let Aric run it out. Our guys kind of thought about it as a group and said, 'OK, we think Denny can run well and we're fast enough to win the race.' That was a huge discouragement of course to Aric."

Gibbs said Almirola, who is credited for the victory because he was the driver in the car at the start, will receive the winner's check of $66,823. He's hoping that Rockwell saw enough in Almirola to consider sponsoring him in a full-time Busch ride next year. And he reiterated the team's commitment to a driver who came up through the Gibbs development program.

"I've known him for over four years. I know his family. I know how much this means to them," Gibbs said. "He's a huge part of our future. We've invested a lot in him, time-wise and financially, and more important just getting to know him. No one wants to see him succeed more than we do." (Continued)