Almirola had initially deliberate to retire on the finish of final season however determined to stay at the least yet one more 12 months in SHR’s No. 10 Ford. He has been mulling over a return for the final a number of months.
Almirola introduced Saturday morning on a social media submit that he wouldn’t return to SHR subsequent season. “After a lot prayer, consideration and conversations with my household, I’m prepared for the following journey,” he stated. “As for the long run … Proverbs 19:21.”
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in an individual’s coronary heart, however it’s the Lord’s goal that prevails.”
The 39-year-old driver didn’t elaborate on his subsequent journey however Motorsport.com has discovered that Almirola is contemplating at the least one Xfinity supply in 2024 from a top-level group.
Shortly after Almirola’s submit, Tony Stewart, co-owner of SHR, issued the next assertion:
“I’m happy with all the things Aric has achieved and am particularly proud that his final six years have been with Stewart-Haas Racing. He and Smithfield shaped an unimaginable partnership that resonated on and off the racetrack, and quite a lot of that may be a testomony to Aric.
“He at all times places forth most effort and he makes everybody round him higher. Merely put, he’s an awesome particular person – an superior dad to Alex and Abby and an distinctive husband to Janice. I do know all of them rather well and am genuinely completely satisfied for his or her subsequent steps collectively as a household.
“Smithfield has been an excellent companion and a NASCAR staple for greater than a decade. Their platform with Aric was a mannequin for the game and it was an honor to characterize them.”
Stewart additionally confirmed that SHR would stay a four-car Cup program in 2024 and the group would announce a brand new driver in addition to new sponsors at a future date.
Almirola has made 458 profession begins within the Cup Collection and pushed for SHR since 2018. He has three wins and completed a career-best fifth within the sequence standings in 2018. He additionally has 4 Xfinity wins and two in Vans.
Almirola missed the playoffs this season and is at present twenty second within the sequence standings with one top-five and 4 top-10 finishes and received two poles. His greatest effort this 12 months was third on the summer time Daytona race.
