This weekend began with Stewart-Haas Racing star Aric Almirola announcing his retirement from the Cup Series. And it ended with him almost taking home the grandfather clock at Martinsville Speedway. Although the #10 Ford icon is not leaving his love for racing cold turkey, it’s safe to say that he has resorted to a life where he would be around his family more. But when he finished behind race-winner Ryan Blaney and that too by under a second, it proved that he’s still got it.

And that’s what his crew chief admitted moments after his driver’s solid run in the 500-lap race. Drew Blickensderfer explained how Aric Almirola had the perfect chance to take home his first win of this season, and perhaps the last win of his career. Although he fell short by just a minuscule, Almirola received all the flowers from his crew chief.

SHR crew chief called Aric Almirola the “ultimate professional”

Aric Almirola will make his last start for Tony Stewart next week at Phoenix Raceway. And everyone behind the garage of Stewart-Haas Racing wanted Aric Almirola to win at the 0.5-mile short-track in Virginia. Needless to say, their hopes weren’t just out of thin air. The 66 laps that Almirola led were the most throughout which he has appeared up front since he led 128 laps at Kentucky Speedway in 2020.

Almirola failed to score any stage points and nearly missed the second stage, finishing 11th. However, it was the two-tire change strategy that did it for Almirola. When Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell spun out for the last yellow flag, Almirola was the first of the six cars that changed two tires. With 89 to go in the final 168 green flag laps, Almirola snatched the lead from Chase Elliott, only to lose it to Ryan Blaney with 23 laps remaining till the start-finish line.

After it was all done and dusted, Frontstretch’s Michael Massie walked up to Blickensderfer and asked him to say what the latter thought about Almirola. And Blickensderfer spoke his heart out. “Man, Aric’s a class act,” he said, “I’ve been a part of a program with Aric in it for a while at a couple different places and Aric is really good. He is the ultimate professional.”

It appeared like the #10 crew chief really wanted Almirola to win the race. What better way to cherish memories than having the grandiose clock in one’s living room and thinking of the hard work that went behind winning it?

“He wanted it for us, he loves this team and we love him just as much back. He will be missed at Stewart-Haas. We have one more chance, (we’ll) see if we can do something at Phoenix for him,” he added.

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Aric Almirola was disappointed. After all, coming second perhaps hurts more than not being able to finish the race. And that’s because it feels like the win was so close and yet so far. However, that’s not why Almirola was disappointed.

Aric Almirola’s heartwarming family moment turned cold as ice

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With 5 playoff appearances, this 39-year-old Florida native has lived up to his commitment to the rigorous grind each season in the Cup Series for 18 long years with SHR. And finally, he feels like it’s time for him to pay more attention to his family and improve his work-life balance. But winning at Martinsville would have been extra special for a sweet reason.

Everyone in Aric Almirola’s family, who had been a constant support for him throughout his racing career, was present on the grandstands to watch Almirola make his penultimate start with Stewart-Haas Racing. And it would have been amazing if he had won and gone back home after celebrating with his family in the victory lane.

“So frustrated,” Almirola said, following the race, adding,“I had my family here. Had my grandparents here, my mom, my stepdad, and the people that helped me to get my start in racing and I wanted so bad to celebrate with them in Victory lane.”

“Just proud of my race team, I wanted to celebrate with them too; they deserve it. I wanted to go out with a bang and just came up one spot short. So sad, and frustrated but still proud of the effort,” he added with a faint smile on his face.

Nevertheless, Almirola has one more chance to win at Phoenix. Will he leave the arena of NASCAR with a win or will he fall prey to the madhouse that Championship 4 is? Only time will tell.

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