Aric Almirola Could Leave Tony Stewart Hanging as Joe Gibbs Courts the Experienced Ace

Remember Aric Almirola and his long-standing partnership with Smithfield in NASCAR? Well, all good things must come to an end, and that’s exactly what happened when Smithfield decided to pull the plug on their sponsorship. Following this, Almirola made a bold move and decided to hang up his helmet with Tony Stewart‘s Stewart-Haas Racing.

Interestingly, Almirola didn’t completely shut the door on his racing career. He left a window open for possibly racing in the Xfinity Series down the road.

Aric Almirola could return to NASCAR as a part-time driver

The latest buzz is that Joe Gibbs Racing, a big name in the NASCAR world, has tossed a lifeline to the former SHR driver as per Bob Pockrass, a renowned Fox Sports reporter. They’re courting him to join their team for a part-time gig. It looks like Almirola’s racing story might have a few more exciting chapters left!

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The tweet read, “Aric Almirola has been mentioned to run a part-time Xfinity schedule for JGR next year. This would give credence to those rumors as it sounds like Joe Gibbs is saying he is driving for the team.”

Apparently, Joe Gibbs Racing is all set to unveil their complete Xfinity lineup and game plan in about a week’s time. The news got confirmed by Bob Pockrass, as Aric Almirola was spotted hanging out with Joe Gibbs at the Commanders game just recently. And Gibbs told Josh Harris, the Redskins owner and a big-shot investor in JGR, that Almirola is now on board with their team. Besides, Aric Almirola might also further participate in the Late Model Racing Series as he said while announcing his semi-retirement.

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Almirola could also make a comeback to Late Model Racing

It looks like Almirola might be revving up for a blast from the past by dipping his toes back into Late Model Racing. While it’s pretty much an open secret now that he’s not hanging up his Xfinity or Truck series helmets just yet, the driver has been dropping hints about cruising down memory lane.

In his own words: “I’m excited just about having some weekends off, right? So go back to doing some late model racing like I used to when I was a kid. If there’s an opportunity to run a handful of truck races here and there or something like that, run some Xfinity races. I think the door’s open. I’ve had a lot of just amazing conversations over the last four to six months about different opportunities, so I want to stay involved in the industry. I love this industry. I love the people in the industry. This industry has afforded me and my family a wonderful life and I don’t want to just walk away from it.”

Read More: “Aric’s Driving for Us Now”- Joe Gibbs Lets Slip Aric Almirola’s Future Plans at Tony Stewart’s Expense

With a hat-trick of wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, six times leading the pack at the pole, and a treasure trove of memories, Almirola’s departure from SHR is just another bend in his racing journey. Now, with all eyes on his shift to the Joe Gibbs Racing team, it’s anyone’s guess how this new chapter will unfold for him. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a ride worth watching.