ARIC ALMIROLA: Driver, No. 10 Ford Mustang
Biography
Birthdate: March 14, 1984
Birthplace: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Residence: Mooresville, North Carolina
Spouse: Janice
Children: Alex, Abby
Social Media: Facebook (@AricAlmirola), Twitter (@Aric_Almirola) and Instagram (@Aric_Almirola)
Aric Almirola’s career has come full circle at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) with the driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang enjoying the best years of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
Almirola has made the NASCAR Playoffs every season since arriving at SHR in 2018. In fact, in his first year with the organization, Almirola finished a career-best fifth in the championship standings as a member of the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs and advanced to the Round of 8 for the first time. He won his second career NASCAR Cup Series race Oct. 14 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as part of a season-long tally that included four top-five and 17 top-10 finishes and 181 laps led, surpassing all of his previous single-season statistics.
Matching those numbers in 2019 proved difficult, but Almirola continued to perform. He scored his second career NASCAR Cup Series pole – and first with SHR – Feb. 22 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The pole symbolized Almirola’s strength in qualifying, where his 10.5 average starting spot was his best in eight full seasons.
In terms of top-fives, top-10s and laps led, 2020 was a career year for Almirola. His six top-fives, 18 top-10s and 305 laps led were all season bests, and each significantly bettered his previous yearlong highs from 2018.
At his introductory press conference in late 2017, Almirola spoke prophetically about his own expectations at SHR.
“There are two types of athletes in the world,” he said. “There are the athletes that just want to be a part of the show, and there are the athletes who want to make the show. I’m in the latter category. I want the pressure. I want the ball in my hands when it comes to the game-winning shot. I don’t want to have an excuse that my equipment is not where it needs to be. This is that opportunity.”
Almirola has obviously seized his opportunity at SHR, but the talent he has displayed was seen long ago by SHR co-owner Tony Stewart, who was a teammate of Almirola’s at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). From 2004 until midway through 2007, Almirola and Stewart spent considerable time together.
That history made Almirola’s transition to SHR a smooth one. Almirola had spent the prior six seasons racing for Richard Petty Motorsports where he piloted the iconic No. 43 Ford. In his time with Petty, Almirola scored the organization’s first victory in the famed No. 43 since 1999 when he won the July 2014 race Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. He also won a pole and earned 11 top-fives and 31 top-10s.
But peaks of success seemed to come between valleys that were too wide, prompting Almirola to find a new opportunity with SHR. It wasn’t the first time he set out to showcase his ability.
A Tampa, Florida, native of Cuban descent, Almirola’s racing career began in go-karts at age 8. After winning many races and local titles in and around his home state, he took his talent to the national karting scene in 1998. He quickly made his presence known, qualifying on the pole for the World Karting Association Grand Nationals at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium before finishing fourth in the season-ending point standings.
At 16, Almirola graduated to open-wheel Modifieds – 2,750-pound racecars that put out more than 700 horsepower. In 2000, he won the rookie-of-the-year title in two separate Modified divisions – Florida Modified and Southern Automobile Racing Association Modified – while garnering his first career win in the Joslin Memorial 100 at Orlando (Fla.) Speedworld, beating the top drivers in Florida.
In March 2002, Almirola advanced from open-wheel Modifieds to the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division, where he finished runner-up in the rookie-of-year standings. He continued in that division in 2003, winning three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, two poles at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, and one pole at Bronson (Fla.) Speedway.
Almirola’s big break came in the fall of 2003. In conjunction with the late Reggie White, a Hall of Fame defensive end who played in the NFL, the Gibbs organization formed a diversity program to create a grassroots stock car team that would identify and assist minorities with the desire and talent to pursue a career in motorsports. Almirola was selected to join the program after participating in a driver combine at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
He began his career at Gibbs in 2004 driving a Late Model in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at the .4-mile Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina. After scoring two wins, six top-fives and 15 top-10s, Almirola traversed the Southeast competing in regional Late Model races. By the end of 2005, Almirola was running a limited schedule in the NASCAR Truck Series, which led to a full-time Truck Series ride and a nine-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule in 2006.
Almirola continued to hone his craft as he moved into 2007. He made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, three days shy of his 23rd birthday. He competed in 18 Xfinity Series events for Gibbs, scoring two top-fives, six top-10s and three poles. He was also credited with his first series victory June 23, when he co-drove the No. 20 entry with Denny Hamlin to victory at The Milwaukee Mile. Hamlin was commuting from the NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and arrived in Milwaukee late. Almirola won the pole, started the race and promptly led the first 43 laps before Hamlin finally arrived and replaced Almirola for the duration of the race.
By August of 2007, Almirola was running more NASCAR Cup Series races, sharing Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s No. 01 entry with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. After wheeling the No. 01 car for five races in 2007, Almirola competed in 12 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2008, again splitting time with Martin while earning a best finish of eighth March 16 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in just his seventh career Cup Series start. Almirola also made his first and only career start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, winning the Sept. 19 race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
The 2009 season saw Almirola compete on a part-time basis across NASCAR’s top-three national touring divisions, making eight Cup Series starts, four Xfinity Series starts and 16 Truck Series starts. In the Truck Series, Almirola scored seven top-fives and 10 top-10s while leading 98 laps.
Those collective performances led Almirola to a full-time Truck Series drive in 2010 with Billy Ballew Motorsports. It was a standout season with Almirola winning two races – May 14 at Dover and June 12 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn – while racking up 11 top-fives and 21 top-10s as he competed for the series championship in which he ultimately finished second.
In addition to his Truck Series efforts, Almirola competed in a limited number of NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series races. He drove in eight Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports, earning a top-five and four top-10s to earn a full-time ride with the team in 2011.
Almirola grabbed a pole and secured seven top-fives and 18 top-10s to finish fourth in the 2011 Xfinity Series standings. He was set to stay at JR Motorsports for the 2012 season, but a fateful call from “The King” took Almirola in a different direction.
NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty tabbed Almirola to drive his No. 43 Ford in 2012. It was Almirola’s first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, and he rewarded Petty’s belief in him by winning the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 in May at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and finishing the year with a top-five and four top-10s.
Almirola’s learning curve in the NASCAR Cup Series continued in 2013. He picked up a top-five and six top-10s, setting him up for a breakthrough year in 2014 when he won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race. That coveted win came on July 6 at Daytona, and it advanced Almirola into the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time. He ended the year 16th in the championship with two top-fives and seven top-10s.
From 2015 through 2017, Almirola collected six top-fives and 13 top-10s for Petty. While a variety of factors made the success of 2014 difficult to emulate, Almirola made sure his abilities remained on display by winning two Xfinity Series races – one at Daytona in 2016 and another at Talladega in 2017.
The weekend after winning that Xfinity Series race at Talladega, Almirola was involved in a violent, multicar accident May 13 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. Injuries sustained in the accident sidelined Almirola for seven races, but he returned stronger than ever, earning three top-10s to complete the season and position himself for the opportunity with SHR.
Almirola resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, with his wife Janice and two children – Alex and Abby.
Career Highlights
2020
- Finished 15th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings after earning fourth career berth in the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.
- Earned six top-five and 18 top-10s finishes and led 305 laps in third season with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), surpassing all previous career statistics in a single NASCAR Cup Series season.
- Average start of 9.0 was best in nine full NASCAR Cup Series seasons.
- Average finish of 13.3 was second best in nine full NASCAR Cup Series seasons.
- Accumulated 125 stage points and two stage wins.
2019
- Finished 14th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings after earning third career berth in the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.
- Earned three top-five and 12 top-10s.
- Scored second career NASCAR Cup Series pole Feb. 22 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
- Average start of 10.5 was best in eight full NASCAR Cup Series seasons.
- Accumulated 144 stage points and two stage wins.
2018
- Finished career-best fifth in NASCAR Cup Series championship standings as a member of the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs. Advanced to the Round of 8 for the first time in NASCAR Cup Series career.
- Won NASCAR Cup Series race Oct. 14 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It was his second career Cup victory and first with SHR.
- Earned four top-fives, 17 top-10s and led 181 laps in first season with SHR, surpassing all previous career statistics in a single NASCAR Cup Series season.
- Average finish of 12.8 was best in seven full NASCAR Cup Series seasons.
- Accumulated 170 stage points and one stage win.
- Made 250th career NASCAR Cup Series start March 26 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
- Competed in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races for SHR. Earned one top-five.
2017
- Sixth full season in NASCAR Cup Series.
- Earned three top-five and six top-10s for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Sidelined for seven races due to injuries sustained in a multicar accident May 13 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. Returned to action July 16 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.
- Won Xfinity Series race May 6 at Talladega to score third career Xfinity Series victory.
- Competed in five Xfinity Series races with Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned one top-10.
2016
- Fifth full season in NASCAR Cup Series.
- Earned one top-10 and finished 26th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Won Xfinity Series race July 1 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
- Competed in 10 Xfinity Series races with Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned four top-10s.
2015
- Fourth full season in NASCAR Cup Series.
- Earned three top-fives and six top-10s and finished 17th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Narrowly missed making the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.
- Competed in nine Xfinity Series races for Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned three top-10s.
2014
- Third full season in NASCAR Cup Series.
- Earned two top-fives and seven top-10s and finished 16th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Won first career NASCAR Cup Series race by taking victory in the Coke Zero 400 July 6 at Daytona.
- Secured a berth in the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time.
2013
- Second full season in NASCAR Cup Series.
- Earned one top-five and six top-10s and finished 18th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Finished ninth in lone Xfinity Series start March 2 at Phoenix Raceway for Richard Petty Motorsports.
2012
- First full season in NASCAR Cup Series, driving the iconic No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Scored first career NASCAR Cup Series pole May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
- Earned one top-five and four top-10s. Finished 20th in points.
- Competed in three NASCAR Truck Series races for Wauters Motorsports. Earned one top-five and two top-10s.
2011
- Ran a fulltime Xfinity Series schedule for JR Motorsports.
- Earned seven top-fives and 18 top-10s. Finished fourth in points.
- Scored fifth career Xfinity Series pole Nov. 12 at Phoenix.
2010
- Ran a fulltime Truck Series schedule for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
- Won two Truck Series races – May 14 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway and June 12 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
- Earned 11 top-fives and 21 top-10s. Finished second in points.
- Competed in nine NASCAR Cup Series races between Phoenix Racing (four races) and Richard Petty Motorsports (five races). Earned best finish of fourth in the season finale Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Richard Petty Motorsports.
- Competed in eight Xfinity Series races with JR Motorsports. Earned one top-five and four top-10s.
2009
- Competed on a part-time basis in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions – Cup, Xfinity and Truck.
- Made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts between Earnhardt Ganassi Racing (seven races) and Phoenix Racing (one race).
- Made four Xfinity Series starts between Key Motorsports (three races) and Eddie Smith Racing (one race).
- Made 16 Truck Series starts with Billy Ballew Motorsports. Earned seven top-fives and 10 top-10s.
2008
- Ran a limited NASCAR Cup Series schedule for Dale Earnhardt Inc., splitting driving duties with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin.
- Made 12 total NASCAR Cup Series starts with a best finish of eighth in the March 16 Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
- Won NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race Sept. 19 at Dover with Dale Earnhardt Inc.
2007
- Ran a limited Xfinity series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Co-drove to an Xfinity Series win with Denny Hamlin June 23 at The Milwaukee Mile.
- Earned two top-fives and six top-10s in 18 Xfinity Series starts.
- Made NASCAR Cup Series debut March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, three days shy of his 23rd
- Ran a total of six NASCAR Cup Series races – one with Joe Gibbs Racing (debut at Las Vegas) and five with Dale Earnhardt Inc.
2006
- Ran a fulltime Truck Series schedule for Spears Motorsports. Earned three top-10s.
- Competed in nine Xfinity Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Scored first career Xfinity Series pole June 24 at The Milwaukee Mile.
2005
- Ran a fulltime NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing. Scored seven wins and 11 poles.
- Competed in four Truck Series races with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. Earned two top-10s.
2004
- Raced a late model stock car as a part of the diversity program at Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Earned two wins, six top-fives and 15 top-10s in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina.
2003
- Competed in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division and scored three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, two poles at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and one pole at Bronson (Fla.) Speedway.
- Participated in a driver combine at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and was selected as one of the original members of Joe Gibbs Racing’s diversity program.
2002
- Advanced from open-wheel modifieds to the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division in March 2002, finishing second in the rookie of the year standings.
2000
- Graduated to open-wheel modifieds – 2,750-pound racecars that put out over 700 horsepower.
- Won rookie of the year title in two separate modified divisions – Florida Modified and SARA (Southern Automobile Racing Association) Modified.
- Earned first career win in the Joslin Memorial 100 at Orlando (Fla.) Speedworld, beating the top drivers in Florida.
1992-1999
- Competed in go-karts at the local, state and regional level around his home state of Florida, winning races and championships throughout the southeast.
Early Days
A Tampa, Florida, native of Cuban descent, Almirola’s racing career began in go-karts at age 8. After winning many races and local titles in and around his home state, he took his talent to the national karting scene in 1998. He quickly made his presence known, qualifying on the pole for the World Karting Association Grand Nationals at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium before finishing fourth in the season-ending point standings.
At 16, Almirola graduated to open-wheel Modifieds – 2,750-pound racecars that put out more than 700 horsepower. In 2000, he won the rookie of the year title in two separate Modified divisions – Florida Modified and Southern Automobile Racing Association Modified – while garnering his first career win in the Joslin Memorial 100 at Orlando (Fla.) Speedworld, beating the top drivers in Florida.
In March 2002, Almirola advanced from open-wheel Modifieds to the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division, where he finished runner-up in the rookie of year standings. He continued in that division in 2003, winning three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, two poles at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, and one pole at Bronson (Fla.) Speedway.
The Chance of a Lifetime
Almirola’s big break came in the fall of 2003. In conjunction with the late Reggie White, a Hall of Fame defensive end who played in the National Football League, the Gibbs organization formed a diversity program to create a grassroots stock car team that would identify and assist minorities with the desire and talent to pursue a career in motorsports. Almirola was selected to join the program after participating in a driver combine at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
He began his career at Gibbs in 2004 driving a Late Model in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at the .4-mile Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina. After scoring two wins, six top-fives and 15 top-10s, Almirola traversed the Southeast competing in regional Late Model races. By the end of 2005, Almirola was running a limited schedule in the NASCAR Truck Series, which led to a full-time Truck Series ride and a nine-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule in 2006.
Stepping Stones
Almirola continued to hone his craft as he moved into 2007. He made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, three days shy of his 23rd birthday. He competed in 18 Xfinity Series events for Gibbs, scoring two top-fives, six top-10s and three poles. He was also credited with his first series victory June 23, when he co-drove the No. 20 entry with Denny Hamlin to victory at The Milwaukee Mile. Hamlin was commuting from the NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and arrived in Milwaukee late. Almirola won the pole, started the race and promptly led the first 43 laps before Hamlin finally arrived and replaced Almirola for the duration of the race.
By August of 2007, Almirola was running more NASCAR Cup Series races, sharing the Earnhardt team’s No. 01 entry with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. After wheeling the No. 01 car for five races in 2007, Almirola competed in 12 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2008, again splitting time with Martin while earning a best finish of eighth on March 16 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in just his seventh career Cup Series start. Almirola also made his first and only career start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, winning the Sept. 19 race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
The 2009 season saw Almirola compete on a part-time basis across NASCAR’s top three national touring divisions, making eight Cup Series starts, four Xfinity Series starts and 16 Truck Series starts. In the Truck Series, Almirola scored seven top-fives and 10 top-10s while leading 98 laps.
Those collective performances led Almirola to a full-time Truck Series drive in 2010 with Billy Ballew Motorsports. It was a standout season with Almirola winning two races – May 14 at Dover and June 12 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn – while racking up 11 top-fives and 21 top-10s as he competed for the series championship in which he ultimately finished second.
In addition to his Truck Series efforts, Almirola competed in a limited number of NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series races. He drove in eight Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports, earning a top-five and four top-10s to earn a full-time ride with the team in 2011.
Almirola grabbed a pole and secured seven top-fives and 18 top-10s to finish fourth in the 2011 Xfinity Series standings. He was set to stay at JR Motorsports for the 2012 season, but a fateful call from “The King” took Almirola in a different direction.
Racing The Famed 43
NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty tabbed Almirola to drive his No. 43 Ford in 2012. It was Almirola’s first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, and he rewarded Petty’s belief in him by winning the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 in May at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and finishing the year with a top-five and four top-10s.
Almirola’s learning curve in the NASCAR Cup Series continued in 2013. He picked up a top-five and six top-10s, setting him up for a breakthrough year in 2014 when he won his first career NASCAR Cup Series race. That coveted win came on July 6 at Daytona, and it advanced Almirola into the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time. He ended the year 16th in the championship with two top-fives and seven top-10s.
From 2015 through 2017, Almirola collected six top-fives and 13 top-10s for Petty. While a variety of factors made the success of 2014 difficult to emulate, Almirola made sure his abilities remained on display by winning two Xfinity Series races – one at Daytona in 2016 and another at Talladega in 2017.
The weekend after winning that Xfinity Series race at Talladega, Almirola was involved in a violent, multicar accident May 13 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. Injuries sustained in the accident sidelined Almirola for seven races, but he returned stronger than ever, earning three top-10s to complete the season and position him for the opportunity with SHR.
Almirola resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, with his wife Janice and two children – Alex and Abby.
Aric Almirola’s Year-by-Year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Statistics:
| Year | Team | Races | Won | Top-5 | Top-10 | DNF | Poles | Laps Led |
| 2020 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 36 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 305 |
| 2019 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 36 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 180 |
| 2018 | Stewart-Haas Racing | 36 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 181 |
| 2017 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 29 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 36 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2014 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 36 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 23 |
| 2013 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 36 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| 2012 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 36 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 78 |
| 2010 | Richard Petty Motorsports | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | Phoenix Racing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Phoenix Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56 |
| 2007 | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 352 | 2 | 24 | 79 | 42 | 2 | 842 |
Above chart denotes only NASCAR Cup Series point races.