Aric Almirola Biography
Aric Michael Almirola is an American professional stock car racing driver. He was born on March 14, 1984 Eglin Air Force Base Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He currently competes full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 10 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. A graduate of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Almirola attended the University of Central Florida to work on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to pursue a career in racing. His nickname is The Cuban Missile because of his Cuban heritage.
In 2006, Almirola ran a full-time season in the Truck Series for Spears Motorsports. He still maintained an association with Joe Gibbs Racing and scored three top-10 finishes that year. He also made his debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2006 and made nine starts for Joe Gibbs Racing in the series.The following year, Almirola made his Cup Series debut driving the No. 80 for JGR at Las Vegas and the No. 01 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. for five starts. His best finish was a 26th at Phoenix International Raceway.
Other Personalities: Randi Rhodes
He also ran half of the Xfinity events that year and “scored” his first NASCAR victory at The Milwaukee Mile driving the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing. Almirola didn’t actually cross the finish line in first, though, as JGR decided to put the car’s regular driver, Denny Hamlin, back in the car mid-race. Almirola had qualified the race for Hamlin who was busy with his Cup duties. When Hamlin couldn’t make it to the track in time for the start, Almirola started the race and was running third when Hamlin replaced him. Hamlin went on to score the victory.
Almirola was hired by DEI to share driving duties in the No. 01 Chevrolet in 2007 and the No. 8 Chevrolet with Mark Martin in the Cup Series. He competed in 12 races in 2008 and scored one top-10 finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. Almirola also led his first laps in the Cup Series, collectively three laps at Talladega and 53 laps at Martinsville.In 2011, Almirola made 33 Xfinity Series starts for JR Motorsports. Although winless in 2011, he tallied seven top 5s and 18 top 10s on the way to the fourth position in the season standings.
Aric Almirola Age
He stands at the age of 36 years old as of 2019, having been born on March 14, 1984 Eglin Air Force Base Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he grew in his early teenage life.
Aric Almirola Education
A graduate of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Almirola attended the University of Central Florida to work on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to pursue a career in racing. He is nicknamed “The Cuban Missile” due to his Cuban heritage.
Aric Almirola Family
Aric Almirola was born as the youngest of four boys at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and raised in Tampa. His family members are Cuban and Almirola is a US citizen. His grandfather Sam Rodriguez was a dirt sprint car driver.
Eneida Almirola the grandmother to Almirola, came to the United States as an exile from Cuba with her husband, Ralph Almirola Sr., in 1966. They had the clothes they wore and a handful of other items. It wasn’t about the material goods, anyway; it was about freedom. They arrived with their two children, Almirola’s father, Ralph Jr., who was 4 years old, and his uncle, Roberto, who was just 2. that defines their linage.
Aric Almirola Wife
He got married to a beautiful lady named Janice Almirola. With his wife, Almirola has two children, Alex, and Abby Almirola.With a breakthrough victory in July at Daytona International Speedway and a career-best finish – at that time – of 16th in the Cup Series standings, Almirola considered 2014 a success for his No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team.The Daytona win propelled Almirola into the post-season, where he was the No. 12 seed among 16 title contenders. He was eliminated after the first round and finished the year with seven top 10s in his 36 starts.
Almirola was shut out of post-season competition the next two years, missing a Chase berth by more than 200 points in 2016 – a season in which his best finish was eighth in the fall race at Talladega Superspeedway.In 2017, Almirola competed in 29 of the 36 races after he was sidelined while recovering from a back injury suffered in a crash at Kansas Speedway in May. In a winless season, his best finish was fourth in superspeedway races at Daytona and Talladega.Almirola left Richard Petty Motorsports at season’s end to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing and had a breakout 2018 season in the team’s No. 10 Cup Series entry.
Aric Almirola Kids
With his wife, Almirola has been blessed with two children namely, Alex, and Abby Almirola whom he treasures so much and trains himself every day to become a good father to them.
Aric Almirola Net Worth
Considering the present situation, the net worth or annual salary of Aric Almirola is $1.3 million, and he is now counted as a top racer in the world, which his family member say that he is too young to receive the glories and achievements, and have years to fulfill his dreams and net worth as well.
Aric Almirola Career
Almirola attempted the Aarons 499 at Talladega in No. 35 Tommy Baldwin Racing/Mohawk Chevrolet but failed to qualify after qualifying was rained out by NASCAR. Almirola won his first race in the Camping World Truck Series at Dover International Speedway and won again at Michigan International Speedway, holding off Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch.
Almirola had his first Sprint Cup Top five finish at Homestead. At Talladega in the fall, he ended up in the closest finish in truck series history by ending up second to Kyle Busch in 0.002 of a second, who passed underneath Almirola below the yellow line.
2012-2017: Return to Cup in the No. 43 Almirola’s 2013 Sprint Cup car, in the same Air Force scheme he took to victory lane at Daytona in 2014 After only running one year’s worth of Sprint Cup Series races in his career, Richard Petty Motorsports signed Almirola to a one-year contract, replacing the departing A. J. Allmendinger in the legendary 43 car.
At Bristol, Almirola posted his best career finish to date of 3rd, only behind winner Carl Edwards and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The next week at Auto Club Speedway during the 2014 Auto Club 400, Almirola got involved in an accident with NNS nemesis Brian Scott.
Scott controversially moved into the back of Almirola to wreck himself and Almirola.
In a post-race interview, an angry Almirola retorted “The 33 was obviously a dart without feathers and coming across the race track. He ran right into me. Man, he came from all the way at the bottom of the race track and ran into me. He’s not even racing this series for points. He’s out there having fun because his daddy gets to pay for it and he wrecked us. That’s frustrating.”
At the 2014 Coke Zero 400, Almirola would earn his first career win in the Sprint Cup Series after avoiding two major wrecks, and leading the field when the race was called off after 112 laps due to rain.
Almirola racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2015 Almirola had a more successful year in 2015 despite missing the Chase barely.
Aric Almirola Nascar
Almirola returns to drive the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford for a second season, his seventh full time in NASCAR’s top division.
Almirola had a career-year in 2018, winning one race and posting career-highs in every major statistical category. He has two career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins to his credit and has twice made the NASCAR Playoffs (2014 and 2018).
He previously drove full time for Richard Petty Motorsports from 2012-2017. Almirola also has three NASCAR Xfinity Series and two NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series wins.
Aric Almirola Racing Car
Aric Almirola Controversy
This NASCAR driver is firing back just days after the photo was sold to a media outlet and circulated widely on social media.
In a joint press conference held by NASCAR and Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 driver Aric Almirola is speaking his mind about a highly controversial photo that was taken of him just moments after he suffered an incredibly painful spinal injury in a crash that many have said is the worst one they’ve seen this year.
At the end of the press conference, one reporter speaks up about the photo and asks Almirola his thoughts, saying “There was a lot of debate on social media about the image taken of you getting out of the car. I was wondering what your thoughts were about that?”
There wasn’t a person in the room that was expecting his reaction, but Almirola delivered a fierce statement that hit the nail on the head and echoed the feelings of a close friend and colleague, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Aric Almirola Facts
Born on Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base, workplace of his father, who had fled Cuba at age 4 in 1966.
Began racing in go-karts at age 8 on a Florida track built by his maternal grandfather, Florida racing legend Sam Rodriguez.
Survived an off-road four-wheeling accident at age 13 that severely injured his left leg.
Dropped out of college in 2004 (was studying mechanical engineering) to become an original member of the Joe Gibbs Racing/Reggie White Driver Diversity Program.
Finished second in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series in 2010 and fourth in the 2011 Nationwide Series en route to a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride in the famed Richard Petty No. 43 Ford in 2012.
Won the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway (in his home state), becoming the third Hispanic driver with a victory on NASCAR’s top circuit.
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