NASCAR drivers are nothing less than superstars in the arena of stock car racing. However, the lives of most drivers are stories of sacrifice. Week after week, these speedsters stay away from their families, travel constantly, and put so much on the line as they buckle themselves up to their cars. And as thrilling as the speed might seem to be, it often gets tiring.

And perhaps that’s what Stewart-Haas Racing sensation Aric Almirola had to say when he opened up about the reason why he was choosing to retire from a full-time ride in the Cup Series. In a recent press conference, the SHR icon revealed how a full-fledged driving schedule was hampering his life and how he plans to get out of it.

Despite his love for racing, Aric Almirola feels he is getting older

Aric Almirola has been the wheelman of the #10 Ford Mustang since 2018. The Florida native has scored 2 of his 3 career wins in the Cup series with Tony Stewart‘s team and his career high performance came in the year 2018 when he finished fifth in points with the organization. However, he feels like he has driven all he wanted and finally, it is time for him to move ahead in his life and embrace a new chapter.

Although he didn’t reveal what that new chapter would be, he did shed light on what was bugging him in his profession as a racecar driver. Almirola admitted that due to the tight schedule that the drivers need to run on, it becomes incredibly difficult for the athletes to maintain a work-life balance.

“It is a long season, I’m not complaining about it, I signed up for it. I’ve loved it,” said Almirola, adding, “But I’ve realized too as I’ve gotten older and my kids have gotten older, it has become a lot more challenging to have a work-life balance.”

Undoubtedly, there is more to life than racing for the SHR veteran. And that was evident when he exclaimed, “I’m excited, I’m really really excited” as he spoke about his life outside a stock car. “I have been so blessed and so fortunate to get to do what I love to do for so long…it’s a grind, it really is a grind,” he added.

But what will Aric Almirola do if not drive a stock car? He illuminated his future plans as well. To many’s surprise, those plans are all centered around family.

As Almirola quits Stewart-Haas Racing, his sponsor exits the doors of NASCAR

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Aric Almirola stated that he wants to be around for that baseball game, meet up with an old friend in the park, or perhaps wake up on a Sunday morning and visit the church as a family. Almirola said, “I wanna have weekends where we wake up in the morning and hang out and just do normal things and not get home Sunday night at midnight and have to wake up at 6 a.m. and get ready for school on Monday morning”

Watch this story: Aric Almirola and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Clash on the NASCAR Track

Aric Almirola said that he would be open to racing in the Xfinity Series. But as the teams prefer someone who would run on a regular basis, that option is yet to be explored. As reported by NBC Sports, Almirola said, “If there’s an opportunity to run a handful of Truck races here and there or something like that, or run some Xfinity races, I think the door is open.”

And with Almirola’s departure, his primary sponsor Smithfield Foods also broke all ties with NASCAR. In their recent tweet, Smithfield Foods wrote, “Smithfield Foods congratulates Aric Almirola on his excellent run with Stewart-Haas Racing. With Aric’s decision to explore new opportunities, the time has come for Smithfield to end our NASCAR partnership.”

“Aric has been an incredible ambassador for Smithfield over the past 12 seasons, and we have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with Stewart-Haas Racing in our six seasons together. We plan on finishing 2023 strong, and we wish Aric and SHR the very best,” said the Virginian food company.

And with that, Aric Almirola’s cup of ride remains empty. Although through unofficial sources, it’s rumored that Noah Gragson would be replacing Almirola behind the wheels of the number 10 Ford Mustang. Only time will tell if that rumor becomes a reality.

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