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Aric Almirola career highlights

2020

  • Scored eighth-consecutive top-10 finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway June 22 to tie the track record for most consecutive top-10s – a mark set by Hall of Fame inductee Dale Earnhardt Jr., between April 2001 and October 2004.
  • Almirola’s eight consecutive top-10s at Talladega are the most among active NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
  • Earned back-to-back top-five finishes for the first time in his career – fifth at Homestead-Miami Speedway June 14 and third at Talladega June 22.

2019

  • Finished 14th in NASCAR Cup Series point standings after earning third career berth in the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.
  • Earned three top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.
  • Scored second career NASCAR Cup Series pole Feb. 22 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Average start of 10.5 was best in eight full NASCAR Cup Series seasons.
  • Accumulated 144 stage points and two stage wins.

2018

  • Finished career-best fifth in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship standings as a member of the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs. Advanced to the Round of 8 for the first time in NASCAR Cup Series career.
  • Won NASCAR Cup Series race Oct. 14 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It was his second career Cup victory and first with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR).
  • Earned four top-fives, 17 top-10s and led 181 laps in his first season with SHR, surpassing all previous career statistics in a single NASCAR Cup Series season.
  • Accumulated 170 stage points and one stage win.
  • Made 250th career NASCAR Cup Series start March 26 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
  • Competed in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races for Stewart-Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste. Earned one top-five finish.

2017

  • Sixth full season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Earned three top-five and six top-10 finishes for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Sidelined for seven races due to injuries sustained in a multicar accident May 13 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
  • Returned to action July 16 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.
  • Won NASCAR Xfinity Series race May 6 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway to score third career Xfinity Series victory.
  • Competed in five Xfinity Series races with Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned one top-10.

2016

  • Fifth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Earned one top-10 and finished 26th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Won NASCAR Xfinity Series race July 1 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
  • Competed in 10 Xfinity Series races with Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned four top-10s.

2015

  • Fourth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Earned three top-fives and six top-10s and finished 17th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Narrowly missed making the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.
  • Competed in nine Xfinity Series races for Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Earned three top-10s.

2014

  • Third full season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Earned two top-fives and seven top-10s and finished 16th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Won first career NASCAR Cup Series race by taking victory in the Coke Zero 400 July 6 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Secured a berth in the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time.

2013

  • Second full season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Earned one top-five and six top-10s and finished 18th in points for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Finished ninth in lone NASCAR Xfinity Series start March 2 at Phoenix Raceway for Richard Petty Motorsports.

2012

  • First full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the iconic No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Scored first career NASCAR Cup Series pole May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
  • Earned one top-five and four top-10s. Finished 20th in points.
  • Competed in three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for Wauters Motorsports. Earned one top-five and two top-10s.

2011

  • Ran a fulltime NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule for JR Motorsports.
  • Earned seven top-fives and 18 top-10s. Finished fourth in points.
  • Scored fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole Nov. 12 at Phoenix Raceway.

2010

  • Ran a fulltime NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule for Billy Ballew Motorsports.
  • Won two Truck Series races – May 14 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway and June 12 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
  • Earned 11 top-fives and 21 top-10s. Finished second in points.
  • Competed in nine NASCAR Cup Series races between Phoenix Racing (four races) and Richard Petty Motorsports (five races).
  • Earned best finish of fourth in the season finale Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Richard Petty Motorsports.
  • Competed in eight NASCAR Xfinity Series races with JR Motorsports. Earned one top-five and four top-10s.

2009

  • Competed on a part-time basis in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions – NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
  • Made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts between Earnhardt Ganassi Racing (seven races) and Phoenix Racing (one race).
  • Made four Xfinity Series starts between Key Motorsports (three races) and Eddie Smith Racing (one race).
  • Made 16 Truck Series starts with Billy Ballew Motorsports. Earned seven top-fives and 10 top-10s.

2008

  • Ran a limited NASCAR Cup Series schedule for Dale Earnhardt Inc., splitting driving duties with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin.
  • Made 12 total NASCAR Cup Series starts with a best finish of eighth in the March 16 Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • Won NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race Sept. 19 at Dover International Speedway with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

2007

  • Ran a limited NASCAR Xfinity series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing.
  • Co-drove to an Xfinity Series win with Denny Hamlin June 23 at The Milwaukee Mile.
  • Earned two top-fives and six top-10s in 18 Xfinity Series starts.
  • Made NASCAR Cup Series debut March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, three days shy of his 23rd birthday.
  • Ran a total of six NASCAR Cup Series races – one with Joe Gibbs Racing (debut at Las Vegas) and five with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

2006

  • Ran a fulltime NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule for Spears Motorsports. Earned three top-10s.
  • Competed in nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing.
  • Scored first career Xfinity Series pole June 24 at The Milwaukee Mile.

2005

  • Ran a fulltime NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing. Scored seven wins and 11 poles.
  • Competed in four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports. Earned two top-10s.

2004

  • Raced a late model stock car as a part of the diversity program at Joe Gibbs Racing.
  • Earned two wins, six top-fives and 15 top-10s in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina.

2003

  • Competed in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division and scored three poles at USA Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, two poles at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and one pole at Bronson (Fla.) Speedway.
  • Participated in a driver combine at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and was selected as one of the original members of Joe Gibbs Racing’s diversity program.

2004

  • Advanced from open-wheel modifieds to the Sunbelt Super Late Model Division in March 2002, finishing second in the rookie of the year standings.

2000

  • Graduated to open-wheel modifieds – 2,750-pound racecars that put out over 700 horsepower.
  • Won rookie of the year title in two separate modified divisions – Florida Modified and SARA (Southern Automobile Racing Association) Modified.
  • Earned first career win in the Joslin Memorial 100 at Orlando (Fla.) Speedworld, beating the top drivers in Florida.

1992 – 1999

  • Competed in go-karts at the local, state and regional level around his home state of Florida, winning races and championships throughout the southeast.