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Aric Almirola’s Controversial Win at Phoenix Raceway Sparks Fan Outrage: Analysis of the GOVX 200 Race Drama

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 9, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Aric Almirola’s Controversial Win at Phoenix Raceway Sparks Fan Outrage: Analysis of the GOVX 200 Race Drama

Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; .NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Aric Almirola (19) celebrates his victory of the GovX 200 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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An intense showdown in Phoenix Raceway marked the GOVX 200 of 2025, where Justin Allgaier, the JR Motorsports’ ace, commanded the lion’s share of the race but was sidelined in overtime. The electrifying finale featured Dale Jr’s protégé, a Hendrick Motorsports’ star, and two stalwarts from Joe Gibbs Racing, setting up an adrenaline-pumping endgame.

The dramatic denouement saw the tenacious veteran Aric Almirola, a member of Joe Gibbs Racing, clinch a hard-fought victory at the quirky ‘Desert Oddball’. Almirola nudged Alex Bowman off the track in a risky, last-minute maneuver to bag his first victory of the season. His audacious move, however, drew the ire of many fans who felt let down by the veteran’s tactics.

In a decisive moment that marked the second Xfinity Series race in a month where the winner was determined by a last-lap pass, Almirola took a gamble. After losing out on a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway to Hill, the 40-year-old decided to up the ante at Phoenix. As Bowman led in overtime, Almirola made a daring pass, sliding up the line and forcing the Hendrick Motorsports’ driver into the wall before storming past the checkered flag.

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In a candid post-race interview, Almirola defended his contentious move, saying, “I just knew I needed to get from there to here first. I knew I was going to use him up a little bit, but trying to win the race. I feel like it was warranted. I didn’t think I did anything overly egregious. I just throttled up, and I knew it was going to be a drag race to the start-finish line. Just so proud of all of the guys on this team.”

The final results showed a mere 0.045 seconds separating Almirola and Bowman, with the former bagging his seventh Xfinity Series career win. Understandably, Bowman was less than pleased with Almirola’s move, remarking, “I would’ve hoped that he would’ve given me a lane on exit, but he just exited like I wasn’t there. Which, he was better than us for sure, but [I was] just trying to capitalize on that last restart and trying to win the race, and got shoved in the fence and the race car is destroyed.”

This incident mirrored a similar fracas involving Brent Crews and Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen in the ARCA Menards Series. Although the NASCAR community expressed its dissatisfaction with both incidents, Almirola’s victory at Phoenix, despite leading just 25 laps, stands as a testament to the old adage that history is written by the victors.

The fallout from Almirola’s aggressive tactics was swift and severe. Fans took to social media to voice their displeasure, with the majority calling out the veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver. One fan expressed his disappointment at Almirola’s win, arguing that the racer’s only chance of victory was against younger, less experienced competitors. Others echoed this sentiment, with one fan saying, “Only way Almirola can win. Has been, never was.”

The 40-year-old Almirola, now in the twilight of his NASCAR career, has been a part-time Xfinity Series driver with Joe Gibbs Racing for the past two years. His actions at Phoenix Raceway left many fans surprised and disappointed, with one fan lamenting, “Man I hate Almirola. Just walled him didn’t give him any room at all. You expect that from the young guys but not the veterans. Guess he has to stay relevant somehow.” Another fan chimed in, saying, “I wouldn’t be proud of that win if I was Almirola.”

CBS Sports journalist Steven Taranto described the last-lap pass as “Aric Almirola squeezes Alex Bowman off the final corner.” This choice of words triggered a reaction from fans, with one saying, “Squeezes? More like takes out! Embarrassing @Aric_Almirola.”

Despite the controversy surrounding Almirola’s actions at the 2025 GOVX 200 and the general fan displeasure, NASCAR deemed the move legal. However, the question remains: Did Almirola truly cross a line at Phoenix Raceway? As the dust settles, we invite your thoughts and comments on this heated debate.

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