“Not Sad at All” – Tony Stewart’s Retiring Driver Reflects on 12-Year Long Journey in NASCAR

Stewart-Haas Racing will be left without two of its major powerhouses next season. As has already been clear for plenty of time now, racing icon Kevin Harvick will be retiring from racing after the season finale. More recently, the #10 driver Aric Almirola too had announced that he would be parting ways with the team that he has been serving for six seasons now.

As he aims for a strong finish in his final race with Tony Stewart’s team in Phoenix, he spoke to the media and gave out a statement reflecting his satisfaction with his 12 years at the top of NASCAR.

Aric Almirola is overwhelmingly grateful and pleased with his tenure in the Cup Series

Aric Almirola had come to the garages of Tony Stewart in 2018, after spending 6 full-time seasons with Richard Petty Motorsports. Though he is a man of few awards, Almirola’s contribution to the sport cannot be underplayed. With over 450 career starts, he has 3 victory lane visits and 96 top-10 finishes. His expertise in superspeedways will always be set as an example for the younger drivers who are coming up the ladder.

Almirola’s career-best finish came with his current team, Stewart-Haas Racing. Finishing 5th in the standings in his maiden season with the team, he advanced as far as the Round of 8. While it was long expected that the driver would be moving out of the #10 car, things were made official only last weekend.

Talking about how he was overwhelmingly grateful to Stewart-Haas Racing, he said, “I have had 12 years in the Cup Series. Not a lot of people get that, right? I have won races at every level in NASCAR. Not a lot of people can say that (…) I am not sad at all. I am happy it happened.”

However, despite his emotions, the driver isn’t quite done yet. There is still one more race to go. Historically, Almirola has performed well at Phoenix. And, as Martinsville proved to us, he is not going out without a fight.

Watch Story: The Unspoken Regret of a NASCAR Legend

Regardless of his emotions, Aric Almirola will not be going out without putting up a fight at Phoenix

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Last weekend at Martinsville, the #10 Mustang of Almirola had almost caused a major upset in the season. He’d almost edged out Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and took home the track’s grandfather clock for himself. But unfortunately, he had to settle for a P2 at the end of the day. But his run leading 66 laps provided a glimpse of the spectacular racer that he is, even today.

Underlining his ability, he said after the race, “I am still on my game. I can still compete at this level and get the job done.” While at the Martinsville Speedway, he ended up being just a step short of one final victory lane, Phoenix provides another opportunity. The raceway is a track where Aric Almirola has been a consistent performer in the past. In his last 12 starts at the track, he has 6 top-10 finishes. As his team heads out to the oval one more time under the banner of SHR, the #10 team will hope to give their driver a fitting farewell.

But at the end of the day, whether he creates a ripple at Phoenix or not, his career will always be a symbol of perseverance. If Sunday is indeed his final race behind a stock car as a professional racer, it is quite an honor to say that he fully deserves a respectful send-off.

Read More: “It’s a Grind” – Aric Almirola Reveals the Real Reason Behind Leaving Stewart-Haas Racing and His Future Plans in NASCAR