Aric Michael Almirola (born March 14, 1984) is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver.

Almirola was born on Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, of Cuban descent.

He won the pole position in his debut in the World Karting Association race and finished fourth in the standings that year.

In 2002, Almirola moved to the NASCAR Sun Belt Weekly Racing Division and finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings.

[1] He also signed with Joe Gibbs Racing as a development driver under a partnership with former NFL player Reggie White.

He also served as a test driver for Gibbs teammates J. J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin when their Nextel Cup and Busch Series schedules conflicted.

8 United States Army-sponsored Chevrolet for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series, sharing the ride with Mark Martin.

15 Graceway Pharmaceuticals-sponsored Toyota Tundra for Billy Ballew Motorsports, and had a seven-race streak of finishing eighth or better.

In April, Almirola parted ways with Phoenix Racing to focus on his Truck Series ride.

9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford at Martinsville Speedway in Fall 2010 after Kasey Kahne was released from his contract.

He was released from his contract after the season when he accepted a full-time Sprint Cup ride, driving for Richard Petty Motorsports in the No.

[9] 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.

After getting his lap back and working his way up to 13th, Almirola hit the wall once again, setting the front of the car ablaze and ending the promising run.

[11] Almirola also returned to the Truck Series in 2012 on a part-time basis driving for his old crew chief Richie Wauters' No.

After being fastest in practice in Talladega, his crew chief Todd Parrott was suspended for violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy.

In January 2014, RPM announced a three-year contract extension with Almirola after working on one-year deals the previous two seasons.

In a post-race interview, an angry Almirola retorted "The 33 was obviously a dart without feathers and coming across the race track.

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.

During the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 13, 2017, Almirola was involved in a violent crash along with Joey Logano and Danica Patrick.

Although he was conscious, Almirola was cut out of his car, placed onto a stretcher, and airlifted to the University of Kansas Hospital.

[17] Almirola was diagnosed with a compression fracture of his T5 vertebrae, released from the University of Kansas Hospital after overnight observation and traveled back to North Carolina, where he had a follow-up consultation with his doctors in Charlotte.

At the inaugural Charlotte Roval race, Almirola was barely able to advance to the Round of 12 with a 19th-place finish after slamming the outside wall while avoiding William Byron, who cut a tire in front of him.

On December 4, 2019, Stewart–Haas Racing announced that Mike Bugarewicz will replace Johnny Klausmeier as the crew chief of the No.

[28] Almirola finished third at the 2020 GEICO 500 despite crossing the finish line nearly all the way backward after being spun by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.[29] Almirola led the most laps and won the second stage at Pocono the following week, and looked to be in a position to win until a poor final pit stop cost him the lead.

He went on to collect his third career win over Christopher Bell after NASCAR shortened the race by 8 laps due to darkness.

[37] In 2024, Almirola returned to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the Xfinity Series on a part-time schedule, driving the No.

[39][40] Almirola later returned to competition at Indianapolis and found success during the playoffs, securing wins at Kansas and Martinsville.

[43] Aric Almirola was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and raised in Tampa.

A graduate of Hillsborough High School in Tampa,[45] Almirola attended the University of Central Florida to work on a degree in mechanical engineering before leaving to pursue a career in racing.

* Season still in progress 1 Ineligible for series points (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.