Aric Almirola, a member of Joe Gibbs Racing's diversity driver-development program, will drive Spears Motorsports' No. 75 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season.

Although no official press release is expected until Wednesday, Spears Manufacturing's motorsports Web site, spearsracing.com, carried a note Tuesday which read, "Aric Almirola to drive No. 75 in Craftsman Truck Series in 2006."

The site also says Dave McCarty, who served as crew chief the past four seasons for Spears' former driver, David Starr, will remain with the team to work with Almirola.

JGR president J.D. Gibbs was not immediately available for comment.

Almirola, a 21-year-old Hispanic driver from Tampa, Fla., ran four races in the Truck series in 2006, with a career best finish of eighth at New Hampshire in September.

In 2004, Almirola competed in the NASCAR Weekly Series at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C.

In 2005, he ran a much more diverse schedule of Late Model races across the Southeast and a limited Truck schedule with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports' No. 47 Chevrolet.

Spears Motorsports is owned by Wayne and Connie Spears, who also own Spears Manufacturing, a manufacturer of fittings for various applications along with valves, joints and clamps.