Aric Almirola’s SHR Exit Proves Detrimental for NASCAR as American Food-Processing Giant Fuels Ongoing Sponsor Crisis

Tough times are ahead for Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing. When Kevin Harvick announced that he would be hanging up his boots after the 2023 season, it came as a shock to the NASCAR community. Losing a former Cup champion and the best performer on the team is bound to have its after-effects. Harvick’s teammate and the No.10 Mustang driver, Aric Almirola, could have been on his couch watching a Cup Series race with his family at this time. That possibility could become a reality very soon.

Almirola has been with the team since 2012, as has the primary sponsor, Smithfield Foods. The company also joined SHR in pressuring Aric Almirola into returning to the sport despite having doubts over his career as early as 2021. While he ultimately did return, the indifferent string of results couldn’t motivate him to extend his stay anymore. Fast forward to October 2023, and the chances of seeing the #10 driver and his sponsor have risen instead of falling.

Smithfield Foods announces its departure from the Cup Series

The ongoing sponsor crisis has put NASCAR in deep trouble. Not just drivers from the grassroots or lower tiers of the sport, but even Cup Series drivers need help finding a sponsor ready to take a risk. While teams like Hendrick Motorsports have not had many problems due to their legacy in the sport, teams with a relatively lesser number of stars have struggled in that aspect.

Smithfield Foods is an experienced institution in NASCAR. Having steered its way for 11 years, the company has backed Aric Almirola since his stay at Richard Petty Motorsports. When the veteran moved to SHR in 2017, they stayed caught up and made the transition with him. Addressing the speculations over its future, the company released a statement on its official Twitter handle, which read,

“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. We’ve been with Aric since the beginning. We were his first sponsor in 2012, his first full-year sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series, and we’ve enjoyed great success with him over the years.”

“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.”

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While the company is still more than capable of helping out Aric Almirola in case SHR decides to renew his contract and put him back on the charter map, the funding, for that reason, might end up costing them too much outside of their primary field.

Aric Almirola still has some fight left in him

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Almirola’s decision-making could have been more consistent in recent history. Despite speculations of him retiring from the sport, he keeps returning for more, season after season. On the other hand, he’d have hoped for a turnaround in the team’s fortunes. With large-scale changes expected to be brought in next season, his place has been compromised even more, with Smithfield Foods conceding their sponsorship.

“I hope so. I’d like not to quit cold turkey,” Aric Almirola said in a press conference at Martinsville. The 39-year-old could return to racing in 2024, but there are meager chances of his employers being Stewart-Haas.

“I think there are some opportunities, but it’s hard. It’s challenging to figure out things that make sense for race teams to do it part-time. Most race teams want somebody to run full-time and race for a championship, so we’ll see if we can get it worked out. I’d love to still scratch the itch, but just don’t want to do it like I have been doing it for the last 12 years, where it’s 38 weeks and it’s a grind.”

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His retirement has also opened up a door of opportunity for former Legacy Motor Club and JR Motorsports driver Noah Gragson. The 25-year-old could make a return to Cup Series racing after facing the axe due to his insensitivity on social media platforms. With an able driver in Josh Berry already signed, SHR could have a new look by 2024.