Aric Almirola seems to be redefining what it means to retire as he recently hung up his helmet from a full-time Cup Series career. However, as the former SHR driver is back on the roster for a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2024, driving for the team will be a sweet homecoming for him. Reuniting with those who kick-started his NASCAR career is bound to bring up some memories, as was revealed by the veteran himself. Almirola, who had signed with Joe Gibbs Racing, back in 2006, recently opened up about his return to the team.

And at the tip of Almirola’s tongue was Tony Stewart’s name, who was his mentor when he was driving in the Xfinity Series back in the day. The veteran revealed how he learned a lot about what to do and especially what not to do from the Stewart-Haas Racing team owner.

Aric Almirola spills the beans on Stewart’s mentorship

After stepping aside from his professional Cup Series career, Aric Almirola will be taking up part-time racing alongside John Hunter Nemechek. The veteran will also serve as a mentor for Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith. Talking about his new roles in a conversation with motorsports journalist Kim Coon, Aric took a trip down memory lane as he revealed Tony Stewart’s influence on his then-nascent career. 

Coon posed an interesting question when she asked, “Who was your mentor, and are there any lessons that you can kind of cherry pick and carry over as you become the mentor?” 

Almirola’s instant grin upon hearing the question portrayed how he had an answer ready. The driver replied jokingly, “Mine was not an advisable mentor, mine was Tony Stewart.”

Almirola furthered into his initial days at JGR and revealed how he and Stewart instantly hit it off and said, “When I showed up here at 19..20..21 years old, I looked up to Tony. He was the man! When I met him, it was an instant that we built a relationship, and he kind of took me under his wing.” 

Indirectly joking about Stewart‘s infamous repertoire on the track and off of it, the future Joe Gibbs Racing mentor laid down that he would prevent a few learnings from Stewart. “I learned a lot of what not to do from observing,” Almirola quipped.

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Almirola is set to take up an entirely new side of motorsport with his mentorship role. But the question is that despite a conclusive retirement plan, how did Almirola end up in JGR?

The call from Joe Gibbs which changed Almirola’s future landscape

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Back in 2006, Almirola joined Joe Gibbs Racing as an Xfinity Series driver, and the very next year, he clinched a victory at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway, paving the way for his new career. The driver then went on to race under several iconic teams, which include Richard Petty Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing. But, as the driver was reaching the twilight of his career and had almost decided on not returning to the track, a familiar face convinced him otherwise.

According to NASCAR, Almirola revealed that out of nowhere, he got a call from the JGR owner, who asked, “Hey, I heard you’re going to retire?” Little did Aric Almirola know that the call from Gibbs would change his life.

Voicing Joe’s words, Almirola revealed what exactly the team owner said to him: “Well, if you are, I’d like for you to come back to Joe Gibbs Racing and retire from here.”

The call sent the driver into a feeling of excitement and shock at the same time. He expressed, “I was humbled, shocked, and I was excited. I wanted to stay involved in the sport and contribute somehow, someway.”

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Almirola’s time with Gibbs reaped serious benefits as the team owner didn’t forget his contribution to the team and went the extra mile to bring Almirola back from retirement. Do you think Almirola’s role as a mentor could change the dynamics of JGR?