Erica Stubbs
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There's Always Next Week
February 25, 2018
Athletes participating in highly competitive sports have to have a short memory, when it comes to losses, that is. After a disappointing 11th place finish in the Daytona 500 (originally announced as 10th place but later corrected), Aric Almirola was positive about his chances to have a good race in Atlanta on Sunday.
During an almost two and a half hour rain delay prior to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, NASCAR on Fox took time to interview several racers including the driver of the Number 10 Smithfield Ford, Aric Almirola. Almirola was asked how he was able to keep his composure after the way the Daytona 500 ended (referring to being taken out of the race by the driver of the Number 3, Austin Dillon).
Almirola smiled. “There was nobody with a camera at my car when I got out,” he said, drawing laughter from the group. “My boss, Tony Stewart, came in the infield care center, gave me a big hug, told me he was proud of me and then said ‘Hey, when you go out here to do the media, do as I say, not as I do’” Tony Stewart, co-owner of the successful racing team, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), was referring to past times as a driver when he spoke to the media after a race and “made some bad choices” with his words. Almirola, well known to fans as a “good guy”, specifically kept his children in mind when carefully considering his comments to the media. He chose to focus on the positive.
That positivity continued to flow. According to SHR, Almirola was excited heading into Sunday’s race. “It’s incredible to have a team like this that has had so much success and won championships and won races.” Almirola considers it “a dream come true.” Although excited about his team, Almirola was hungry for a win in the Cup series, something that had eluded him since July 2014.
The No. 10 Smithfield Ford, piloted by Almirola, qualified well, putting the team in the 11th position at the start of the race. While consistently racing in 13th position, by lap 23, Almirola had made his way to the top 10, running in the 10th position. Due to the rain, NASCAR issued a mandatory caution lap on lap 30. In the race off pit road, Almirola joined the field still in 10th place.
Almirola and the Number 10 Smithfield Ford continued to run in the top 10 racing as high as 8th position by lap 37 and with 21 to go in the first stage, Almirola was running in 7th. At the end of Stage 1, Aric Almirola and the Number 10 team were in 5th position.
Following a green flag pit stop on lap 127, Almirola rejoined the race in 12th position. 12 laps out from the end of Stage 2 saw the first unscheduled caution of the race when the 48 of Jimmie Johnson spun out, losing his right front tire, coming out of turn 2. Stage 2 ended with Aric Almirola in 8th place.
With 28 laps remaining in the race, Trevor Bayne, driver of the Number 6 Ford Fusion, blew an engine causing a 5th caution flag to fly. Caught in the smoke and unable to navigate his way out of danger, the 43 of Bubba Wallace made contact with the rear of the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Almirola restarted the race in 13th place which is where he would finish. SHR teammate, Kevin Harvick, took the checkered flag making it the 40th career win for the SHR team and the first of the 2018 season.
It was clear that the Number 10 Smithfield Ford was running fast on Sunday, however, it wasn’t enough for a win. Post race, Almirola tweeted, “We were really strong at the start.” He added, “With long green-flag runs, we didn’t have many chances to make adjustments.” He ended the tweet with “We’ll get ‘em next week.”
Almirola remains in 10th place in the points standing with 66. NASCAR heads west next Sunday for the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Follow and chat with me here: @shedigzsportz
February 25, 2018
Athletes participating in highly competitive sports have to have a short memory, when it comes to losses, that is. After a disappointing 11th place finish in the Daytona 500 (originally announced as 10th place but later corrected), Aric Almirola was positive about his chances to have a good race in Atlanta on Sunday.
During an almost two and a half hour rain delay prior to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, NASCAR on Fox took time to interview several racers including the driver of the Number 10 Smithfield Ford, Aric Almirola. Almirola was asked how he was able to keep his composure after the way the Daytona 500 ended (referring to being taken out of the race by the driver of the Number 3, Austin Dillon).
Almirola smiled. “There was nobody with a camera at my car when I got out,” he said, drawing laughter from the group. “My boss, Tony Stewart, came in the infield care center, gave me a big hug, told me he was proud of me and then said ‘Hey, when you go out here to do the media, do as I say, not as I do’” Tony Stewart, co-owner of the successful racing team, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), was referring to past times as a driver when he spoke to the media after a race and “made some bad choices” with his words. Almirola, well known to fans as a “good guy”, specifically kept his children in mind when carefully considering his comments to the media. He chose to focus on the positive.
That positivity continued to flow. According to SHR, Almirola was excited heading into Sunday’s race. “It’s incredible to have a team like this that has had so much success and won championships and won races.” Almirola considers it “a dream come true.” Although excited about his team, Almirola was hungry for a win in the Cup series, something that had eluded him since July 2014.
The No. 10 Smithfield Ford, piloted by Almirola, qualified well, putting the team in the 11th position at the start of the race. While consistently racing in 13th position, by lap 23, Almirola had made his way to the top 10, running in the 10th position. Due to the rain, NASCAR issued a mandatory caution lap on lap 30. In the race off pit road, Almirola joined the field still in 10th place.
Almirola and the Number 10 Smithfield Ford continued to run in the top 10 racing as high as 8th position by lap 37 and with 21 to go in the first stage, Almirola was running in 7th. At the end of Stage 1, Aric Almirola and the Number 10 team were in 5th position.
Following a green flag pit stop on lap 127, Almirola rejoined the race in 12th position. 12 laps out from the end of Stage 2 saw the first unscheduled caution of the race when the 48 of Jimmie Johnson spun out, losing his right front tire, coming out of turn 2. Stage 2 ended with Aric Almirola in 8th place.
With 28 laps remaining in the race, Trevor Bayne, driver of the Number 6 Ford Fusion, blew an engine causing a 5th caution flag to fly. Caught in the smoke and unable to navigate his way out of danger, the 43 of Bubba Wallace made contact with the rear of the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Almirola restarted the race in 13th place which is where he would finish. SHR teammate, Kevin Harvick, took the checkered flag making it the 40th career win for the SHR team and the first of the 2018 season.
It was clear that the Number 10 Smithfield Ford was running fast on Sunday, however, it wasn’t enough for a win. Post race, Almirola tweeted, “We were really strong at the start.” He added, “With long green-flag runs, we didn’t have many chances to make adjustments.” He ended the tweet with “We’ll get ‘em next week.”
Almirola remains in 10th place in the points standing with 66. NASCAR heads west next Sunday for the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Follow and chat with me here: @shedigzsportz
1st. 3rd. 8th. 13th.
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 27, 2018
Yeah, Atlanta was a good weekend for Stewart-Haas Racing. pic.twitter.com/HP7KvvsprC
Heartbroken but Hopeful
February 18th, 2018
"Every week I get on the plane to go to the race track I feel like we’re gonna have a shot to go win.” Aric Almirola reported to Fox Sports following the 60th running of the Daytona 500.
After a disappointing wreck with the 48 of Jimmie Johnson in the Can Am Duel race days earlier, Aric Almirola would have to start the Daytona 500 in 37th position with a back up car. Still, Almirola and the Number 10 team were confident that they could have a good race.
As Almirola anticipated the start of the race, he said over the radio “I appreciate everyone here at SHR”. His crew chief, John Klausmeier replied “Thanks for driving our stuff.” Chatter continued between crew and driver about the strength of the car they were racing.
The speed of the car was evident early on in the race as Almirola gained 3 spots in as many laps moving from 37th position to 34th. Almirola reported the car was tight off turn 4 but it was running well.
Lap 10 saw the race’s first caution when Corey LaJoie experienced engine trouble and went into the wall. The No. 10 team took the opportunity to pit twice during the caution. The second pit stop was due to Almirola sliding his tires getting into the pit box on the first trip. After the second stop, Almirola restarted the race on Lap 13 in 34th position. By lap 23, the Smithfield Ford had broken into the top 20. The car was in great shape and so was Almirola and the No. 10 team.
Prior to the race, former driver, Jeff Gordon commented on the strength of the Stewart-Haas Racing team. He said “SHR [Stewart-Haas Racing] has one of the strongest lineups in the garage. They have experienced drivers.” One of those drivers, Kurt Busch, No. 41, went on to win stage 1 of the Great American Race. For most of the race, however, the teammates were unable to provide much help to each other. Late in the 2nd stage, though, Almirola got some help from Kurt Busch and it led him to finish Stage 2 in 4th position, his highest in the race at that point.
Stage 3 saw Almirola running consistently with the front of the pack. Despite dropping position, he ran between 10th and 11th for the majority of the final stage. With 12 laps to go another caution flag flew. Almirola was determined to stay out during the caution, moving him up to 7th place. Then, with only 2 to go, his SHR teammate Kurt Busch wrecked, bringing out yet another yellow.
This final caution would move the race into overtime and, when the green flag was waved, Aric Almirola confidently moved his car into first place. The field behind him was hungry for a win. He maneuvered the car back and forth blocking the high and low lanes. With just a half of a lap left, the No. 3 of Austin Dillon made contact with the rear of Almirola’s car causing him to hit the wall and miss out on taking the checkered flag.
Dillon went on to win the race and Aric Almirola finished 10th, earning 33 points.
When asked post race about the loss, Almirola responded, “My heart is broken but the beauty is we’ll go to Atlanta and we’ve got an incredible race team here at Stewart-Haas Racing and we’ll have another shot next week.” Indeed, Almirola will have to try to get his first win of the season next Sunday when the Number 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion team heads to the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Follow and chat with me here: @shedigzsportz
February 18th, 2018
"Every week I get on the plane to go to the race track I feel like we’re gonna have a shot to go win.” Aric Almirola reported to Fox Sports following the 60th running of the Daytona 500.
After a disappointing wreck with the 48 of Jimmie Johnson in the Can Am Duel race days earlier, Aric Almirola would have to start the Daytona 500 in 37th position with a back up car. Still, Almirola and the Number 10 team were confident that they could have a good race.
As Almirola anticipated the start of the race, he said over the radio “I appreciate everyone here at SHR”. His crew chief, John Klausmeier replied “Thanks for driving our stuff.” Chatter continued between crew and driver about the strength of the car they were racing.
The speed of the car was evident early on in the race as Almirola gained 3 spots in as many laps moving from 37th position to 34th. Almirola reported the car was tight off turn 4 but it was running well.
Lap 10 saw the race’s first caution when Corey LaJoie experienced engine trouble and went into the wall. The No. 10 team took the opportunity to pit twice during the caution. The second pit stop was due to Almirola sliding his tires getting into the pit box on the first trip. After the second stop, Almirola restarted the race on Lap 13 in 34th position. By lap 23, the Smithfield Ford had broken into the top 20. The car was in great shape and so was Almirola and the No. 10 team.
Prior to the race, former driver, Jeff Gordon commented on the strength of the Stewart-Haas Racing team. He said “SHR [Stewart-Haas Racing] has one of the strongest lineups in the garage. They have experienced drivers.” One of those drivers, Kurt Busch, No. 41, went on to win stage 1 of the Great American Race. For most of the race, however, the teammates were unable to provide much help to each other. Late in the 2nd stage, though, Almirola got some help from Kurt Busch and it led him to finish Stage 2 in 4th position, his highest in the race at that point.
Stage 3 saw Almirola running consistently with the front of the pack. Despite dropping position, he ran between 10th and 11th for the majority of the final stage. With 12 laps to go another caution flag flew. Almirola was determined to stay out during the caution, moving him up to 7th place. Then, with only 2 to go, his SHR teammate Kurt Busch wrecked, bringing out yet another yellow.
This final caution would move the race into overtime and, when the green flag was waved, Aric Almirola confidently moved his car into first place. The field behind him was hungry for a win. He maneuvered the car back and forth blocking the high and low lanes. With just a half of a lap left, the No. 3 of Austin Dillon made contact with the rear of Almirola’s car causing him to hit the wall and miss out on taking the checkered flag.
Dillon went on to win the race and Aric Almirola finished 10th, earning 33 points.
When asked post race about the loss, Almirola responded, “My heart is broken but the beauty is we’ll go to Atlanta and we’ve got an incredible race team here at Stewart-Haas Racing and we’ll have another shot next week.” Indeed, Almirola will have to try to get his first win of the season next Sunday when the Number 10 Smithfield Ford Fusion team heads to the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Follow and chat with me here: @shedigzsportz
"My heart is broken."- Aric Almirola pic.twitter.com/2Uk6bOaK6r
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2018
