Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports often get called out for having a leg up in NASCAR. Just like when fans threw a fit because NASCAR delayed the All-Star race for Kyle Larson, a courtesy they said was never extended to guys like Tony Stewart or Kurt Busch when they pulled off double duty. But now, there’s fresh talk about Joe Gibbs Racing that’s stirring up the pot.

Word has it that after winning at Martinsville Speedway in April, Aric Almirola was all set to hop into the #20 Toyota this Saturday at the BetMGM 300 in Charlotte. But plot twist—apparently “team decision“ has bumped him for Joe Gibbs’ grandson.

Was rejoining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024 a bad move for Aric Almirola?

After deciding to delay his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series and leaving the Stewart-Haas Racing team, Aric Almirola teamed up with Joe Gibbs Racing to race part-time in the Xfinity Series this year. But now, it looks like that decision might be biting him back. Despite clinching his fifth career Xfinity win at Martinsville this past April, Almirola has been benched this weekend at Charlotte, swapped out for Ty Gibbs. Bob Pockrass broke the news, stating, “Ty Gibbs in the JGR No. 20 Xfinity car this weekend at Charlotte. Original plan was Aric Almirola. JGR says it was a team decision.”

But in case you don’t know, this isn’t Almirola’s first rough ride with Joe Gibbs Racing. Back in 2007, JGR had one of the weirdest weekends of his career. While the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was at Sonoma Raceway, Almirola was over at the Milwaukee Mile, qualifying a car for JGR. He nailed it, putting the #20 Rockwell Automation-sponsored JGR Chevrolet on the pole for the Saturday night Xfinity race.

Meanwhile, after wrapping up Sprint Cup Happy Hour at Sonoma, Denny Hamlin flew to Milwaukee, slated to take over the car that Aric Almirola had just qualified for. But because Hamlin was delayed, Almirola started the race. When Hamlin finally showed up, the team called Almirola into the pits on Lap 59 and switched drivers, supposedly at the request of the Milwaukee-based sponsor.

Understandably, Almirola was livid—a sentiment Hamlin recognized even then. “I didn’t want to do it. I knew he (Almirola) would be really upset,” Hamlin admitted. That decision pushed Almirola to leave JGR and sign with Ginn Racing, a team he initially joined in 2004 as one of NASCAR’s first Drive for Diversity recruits.

That fateful night in 2007 redirected his career in unexpected ways. Now, history seems to be repeating itself as JGR opts to favor Joe Gibbs’ grandson over Almirola, who’s already clinched a win in 2024. The move has understandably riled up the fans.

Fans are riled up over how Gibbs’ team is treating Aric Almirola

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The minute the news hit Twitter, the Reddit crowd was all over it, slamming JGR for favoring Ty Gibbs—who’s barely dipped his toes in the Xfinity Series this year with just one race under his belt, finishing P24 at the Circuit of America. Now, he’s stepping in for Almirola.

Fans who remember the 2007 drama when JGR yanked Almirola from a race he was set to win weren’t shy about pointing out the déjà vu: “Not the first time Almirola gets replaced in Xfinity by “team orders,”“ “Not the first time Almirola has been taken out of the 20 car,” and “I’d have never gone back to Gibbs if I was Almirola after they pulled him out of the car that one time. At least they give him the benefit of not having to make the trip this time.“ Some threw in a bit of sarcasm for good measure: “Hmm Almirola unfairly kicked out of a #20 JGR ride? I swear I’ve heard that before somewhere…..” and “Where have I heard this before?”

And one fan didn’t mince words about Almirola’s decision to return to JGR, saying, “Aric returned to JGR only to still get thrown out of the 20 car for a Cup guy that’s in his second year in Cup…It’s weird that it happened twice.” Speculation about who made the call was rampant, with one fan guessing, “Team decision means Ty said, “Grandpa I want to drive this race. I haven’t gotten a trophy in too long.“” One commenter summed up their feelings bluntly: “I’m not gonna lie, after how they did him in 2007 & 2008, I would’ve never gone back. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, well…”

What’s your take on JGR’s handling of Almirola? Drop your thoughts below.