Aric Almirola: “It’s Going to Have to Wait” as 18-Year Long JGR-Richmond Dream Slips Away

40-year-old NASCAR veteran Aric Almirola missed out on his chance to make it five race wins in his Xfinity Series career after finishing behind teammate Chandler Smith in a perfect JGR 1-2-3 sweep at Richmond. The 2024 ToyotaCare 250 saw JGR’s third representation at the podium, with teenager Taylor Gray making a stellar debut and taking the #19 Toyota Supra up by twenty-four spots to finish in P3.

Almirola made his own “debut” in the #20 Toyota for JGR, as he swept both stages, starting the 187.5-mile race in P10. This impressive run checked off another monumental moment in the Richmond race as it instead marked a “return” for the Florida native in JGR’s #20 car following his debut Xfinity Series start in it eighteen years ago. Nevertheless, Almirola was unable to emerge as only the third driver to win at Richmond for Coach Gibbs in the #20. 

Only stage wins for Aric Almirola returning to Richmond with the #20

Prior to his part-time start at the 0.75-mile oval in Virginia on Saturday, Almirola controlled JGR’s #19 Toyota for two races in 2024. Taylor Gray is currently in possession of this vehicle, and the rookie lived up to the massive expectations of the #19, with the 19-year-old claiming his inaugural top-5 finish in his very first start in NXS. Although, a bright day for the entire JGR organization, Almirola may be ruining some “unrealized dreams.” His post-race interview on the Richmond asphalt made this abundantly clear.

When reporter Regan Smith asked the “new” #20 what he “lacked” at the end of that race, after displaying strong speeds throughout 250 laps and even leading a race-high 95 laps, Almirola explained, “We just got a little bit too loose. The run before that in stage two when I took off my car was really, really good and at the end, just built a little bit tight, and that last run… I don’t know if it’s a different set of tires or what, but I just paced myself, let Chandler go and then when I started to try and just creep back to them. I didn’t have anything to go with I was too loose in, and I couldn’t get the throttle down on exit, so hate that…“

Chandler Smith pushed hard for his second Xfinity Series win of the 2024 season, staying close behind Aric Almirola during both stage wins. However, the frustrations are only warranted for Almirola, as he continued, “To win both stages and feel like we had the dominant car and then to let it slip away there at the end is disappointing, but… coming back to Richmond 18 years after making my first start for Coach, and he gets us on the car on Easter weekend, so it’s, uh, it’s been amazing to see what God’s done in my life over the last 20 years.“

The veteran superspeedway specialist, with two wins each at Talladega and Daytona, rounded off his answer to Regan Smith with a steely resolve, and it seems like fans might be able to see Almirola run a victory lap soon. He elaborated on his motivations for doing so, stating, “Since I got that phone call from Coach and JD (Gibbs) to come drive for them… I really wanted to put this thing in Victory Lane today for them, but.” The next part of Almirola’s statement truly caught the essence of realism for his future Richmond advances, as he candidly concluded with acceptance: “It‘s going to have to wait.”

With JGR amicably represented with 3 out of 6 race wins in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Almirola can rest assured his chance will come to add to Coach Gibbs’ tally in the near future. However, a win at Richmond will have to wait until next year.

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