Aric Almirola reached his first victory since retiring from the Cup series on Saturday. Almirola celebrated his win with his kids (Via IMAGO and Screenshot: @NASCAR/X).
Joe Gibbs Racing has been dominating the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series recently. They have been extremely successful in both major series, winning three of the last four races. Aric Almirola added himself to the list of winners last Saturday. The experienced driver had an impressive performance in his Toyota No:20.
Almirola emerged as the race winner, surpassing his teammate and JRM in a chaotic restart in overtime. The race ended under yellow flag due to a multi-car crash caused by , and hitting on the last lap. This was Almirola’s fifth victory at the iconic circuit.
The victory meant the world to Almirola, who celebrated with his family. He shared an emotional moment with his kids, who joined him on the track to celebrate. They also joined him in the podium celebrations. This win was especially special for Almirola, as it was his first since retiring from full-time racing at the end of the 2023 season.
Almirola announced his retirement from the No:10 SHR team last year to prioritize time with his family. However, he had the opportunity to end his career where it all began by . He promptly accepted the chance and is now more than just a part-time driver at JGR. He also serves as a mentor to all Toyota drivers in the JGR development program. This victory will boost his credibility among younger drivers.
Technically, Almirola captured his first Xfinity win in 2007 at Martinsville. However, he considered it a tainted victory, as he was the one who actually finished the race for JGR. Almirola only started the race because Hamlin, who had Cup duties, had travel issues and arrived late to the event.
When Hamlin finally made it to the track, JGR decided to make a pit stop and switch drivers. Despite this confusion, Almirola was ultimately credited with the win, since he started the race. It was a confusing moment for both the team and the former SHR driver. Finally achieving a proper victory allows Almirola to rid himself of that burden.
This win will give JGR an extra boost in the upcoming weeks of racing as they seek their first championship since Ty Gibbs in 2022. It also validates Almirola’s decision to end his Cup career and explore opportunities in the second division.
