Aric Almirola added another top twenty finish to his 2008 season by driving the number eight DEI Chevrolet to twentieth in Sunday's Tums 500 at the Martinsville Speedway. The part time rookie driver made an impressive showing in his third career Cup start at Martinsville, leading fifty three laps and overcoming an accident to record his fourth top twenty in his last five races.

"Aric keeps on driving like a seasoned veteran," said crew chief Tony Gibson. "We were all proud of the effort he gave this U.S. Army team  today."

The twenty four year old Tampa, Florida native led the field from lap sixty four through lap one hundred sixteen, making him the races' third highest lap leader behind Jimmie Johnson, who led three hundred thirty nine circuits, and Jeff Gordon, who was out front for fifty seven laps.

Almirola was on track for a much higher finish until he tangled with Elliott Sadler on lap one hundred ninty six. The number eight Chevrolet sustained damage to the left front causing the Army team to go a lap down after making repairs on pit road.

"It was an uphill battle after making contact with the number ninteen car," Almirola said after the race. "We had a great car and it was a blast leading the race. We had our backs against the wall and I am sorry we  couldn't have had a better finish for our Soldiers. But I think they would have been proud of this team for the fight we showed in coming back and finishing twentieth."

The number eight team moved up from fifteenth to fourteenth in Cup owner points as a result of Sunday's effort in Martinsville.

Mark Martin is scheduled to drive the number eight Army sponsored Chevrolet next weekend at Atlanta. Almirola will return to the seat for the season finale at Homestead - Miami Speedway on November 16.