Aric Almirola appeared at the Sprint Sound and Speed Festival in Nashville, Tennessee over the weekend and was quoted on Saturday as saying he will drive the #09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for team owner James Finch in 2010.

Almirola drove the #8 for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2009 before a lack of sponsorship forced the team to park early in the year. Almirola went on to drive for NASCAR team owners Curtis Key in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Billy Ballew in the NASCAR Truck Series in several races to finish out his season.

“[We’re] still working on a lot of things," Almirola said Saturday. "When I got off the phone with him (team owner James Finch) just the other day, it was, ‘We’re going racing, and the rest will take care of itself.’ Hopefully we can get everything situated in the next couple of weeks."

Phoenix Racing scored their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Talledega last April with Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of the #09.

Almirola also indicated the team will race the the entire schedule and not be a start and park team.

MORE NASCAR NEWS