NASCAR
Aric Almirola Officially Announces He’ll Return To Cup Series in 2023
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Aric Almirola and Smithfield Foods have signed a multi-year deal to remain in the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2023 season and beyond. The 38-year-old previously announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2022 season back in January. However, it seems the three-time Cup Series winner is now ready for more.
“I’ve learned a lot this year and perhaps the biggest learning was to never say never,” Almirola said on the announcement. “I came into this year ready to soak everything up, and I have. I already knew I had the coolest job in the world, but being with my family and being there for Janice and Alex and Abby was really important. My desire to compete and win never wavered, but I didn’t want it to come at the expense of family. We found a way to accommodate both and I’ve never been happier.”
Almirola is currently in his 11th full-time season as a Cup Series driver and his fifth in the Stewart Haas Racing No. 10 car. The team is excited to welcome both the driver and sponsor back for future seasons.
“All of us at SHR are very happy to have Aric back in our Smithfield Ford Mustang,” Team co-owner Tony Stewart said. “I’ve always admired Aric because he’s always working to better himself, to find a better way. This year is proof of that. We’re in a tough sport, in terms of the competition and in terms of the commitment it takes to compete at this level. Even with all that, Aric has found a way to compete and enjoy life. That sounds simple, but achieving it is hard, yet Aric makes it look simple. It’s one of his many attributes, and it’s one of the many reasons why he’s such a good fit for Smithfield and for us. I’m proud of him and proud to extend our partnership with Smithfield.”
Smithfield Foods, a large meat distributor and food-processing company out of Smithfield, Virginia, has been with Almirola since his first full-time season in the Cup Series. When the company was ready to sign a larger deal for 2023 and beyond, Almirola is the driver they wanted back in the car, forcing him to rethink retirement.
“Smithfield is a big part of that,” Almirola said. “They’ve been a part of my life for 11 years and, really, my entire NASCAR Cup Series career. They’re family to me. And, of course, it’s always nice to be wanted. Smithfield wanted me to continue representing them. Stewart-Haas Racing wanted me to continue driving their race cars. Everything just aligned and it’s something we all embraced.”
The Tampa, Florida native currently sits 18th in the driver standings and as it stands, wouldn’t make NASCAR’s 2022 championship battle. However, Almirola is certainly familiar with winning at Daytona, doing so in both the Xfinity and Cup Series levels in years past. Now, a win Saturday night is the only way to keep his 2022 season hopes alive.
Written by Noah Lewis
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Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
