Driver Spotlight: Aric Almirola

2014 Firecracker 400 Winner Rain or Shine

By Richard Tix

It has been awhile since NASCAR Behind the Wall has released a driver spotlight (June 10th on Dale Jr). It has been even longer since Aric Almirola had his chance to shine in the spotlight (May 12, 2013).  Last year when NBTW spotlighted Aric he had just got done pulling off four straight top 10's but the nice thing about history and statistics is we can look back at that.

Almirola finished the 2013 season off with 6 total top 10's even after pulling of four straight from race 7 to 10. Maybe I am bad luck, or maybe Almirola lost whatever he had found during that stretch but either way he was disappointing at the end of the season.

Fast forward to 2014 for the Firecracker 400 and Aric Almirola was on a 124 race win less streak. As most of you know, that win less streak was his whole career. When the race started no one was picking him to win and no one thought that 30 years after Richard Petty won his 200th and final race that the #43 would be back in victory lane. 

Stranger things have happened, but in the NASCAR world the 2014 Firecracker 400 weekend has to be up there. A day full of on and off rain postponed the race on Saturday night until Sunday at 11 am. Then on Sunday a handful of red flags, large wrecks, and a rain shortened race capped off the week. But it was Aric who was sitting in the first position when NASCAR finally called the race, putting the #43 back in VL and giving him his first Sprint Cup victory.

This season starts the beginning  of a New Era in NASCAR where one win during the first 26 races gives you an almost automatic birth into the Sprint Cup Chase. So, Aric Almirola's first Cup win came at the perfect time.

Not only will Aric make his first Chase (most likely that is. He has to stay in the top 30 in points) but he will also give Richard Petty Motorsports it's first driver into the Chase. Since Aric has already almost locked himself into the Chase it also gives RPM the shot at two cars in the Chase if Ambrose can find a win on an oval (small chance) or get back on track at Watkins Glenn where he has won twice (2011 and 2012). 

One things is for sure when it comes to Almirola in 2014; Aric could have his best season in Cup this year. Everyone know's he just notched his first win, but he also has two top 5's (career high) and 4 top 10's (tied for second in career high). He still hasn't shown huge improvement from season to season, in fact his career averages have been about the same the past three years. But, with his win at Daytona all that matters is the last 10 races of the season.

Will Aric Almirola win the 2014 Sprint Cup Title? No. But, as I have stated in my New Era article, it gives guys like him a chance to shine if only for a little while. Just think about how much more his name will be brought up when talking about the Chase later this year? In my opinion that should have some effect on sponsorship and can only be a good thing for the little teams and for NASCAR as a whole.