Aric Almirola’s Martinsville Xfinity win proves nice guys can finish first

Former MLB supervisor Leo Durocher had a well-known saying: “Good guys end final.” On Saturday night time, Aric Almirola dispelled that fact, no less than for somewhat bit. 

The 40 year-old Florida native retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Collection competitors on the finish of final season. Almirola’s remaining Cup Collection season was principally a disappointment. There was, nevertheless, one on-track vivid spot for the veteran driver – an Xfinity Collection win at Sonoma in June, which appeared to reinvigorate his ardour for NASCAR’s second-tier collection. Quick ahead to a cold Virginia night in April of 2024 and Almirola is already reaping the rewards of his choice to signal with Joe Gibbs Racing on a part-time Xfinity Collection deal. 

After main 95 laps in final weekend’s race at Richmond, Almirola was finally bested by his 21 year-old JGR teammate in Chandler Smith. Whereas Smith was arguably the second most spectacular driver on Saturday night time, ending third after beginning thirty seventh, it was the artful Almirola who bested the younger weapons on one other Virginia quick monitor, main 148 of the race’s 251 laps. Almirola additionally collected the $100,000 Sprint 4 Money prize, a program began in 2009 which rewards the additional payday to the best ending of 4 eligible drivers. With Almirola’s second-place run at Richmond, he was mechanically certified for this system and Saturday’s win ensures that he’ll have a couple of further {dollars} within the retirement fund. 

One of many foremost causes Almirola retired was to spend extra time along with his household, a tricky job given the NASCAR Cup Collection’ grueling 38 week schedule. On Saturday night time, Almirola’s son and daughter have been capable of greet their dad on the frontstretch at Martinsville, with daughter Abby handing her father the checkered flag. With Almirola’s condensed racing schedule, his household is now capable of journey to most race weekends, making reminiscences like Saturday’s frontstretch celebration attainable after they in any other case could not have been earlier than.