USA Today via Reuters
Aug 19, 2023; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill (21) leads driver Justin Allgaier (7) during the Shriners Children?s 200 at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Aug 19, 2023; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill (21) leads driver Justin Allgaier (7) during the Shriners Children?s 200 at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
With Ford still winless in all tiers of NASCAR this season, the supremacy battle reigns between Chevrolet and Toyota. Who among these two parked the better car this season? And when the debate regarding this reached its peak, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran clarified the whole scenario.
Aric Almirola, who drives a Toyota Supra himself for one of the best garages out there, felt that their opponents might have a better championship car. Notably, Almirola was the only Toyota representative in the Top 5 in today’s Xfinity race at Darlington. The question is, why did he go on praising his rival manufacturer all of a sudden?
Aric Almirola gives Chevrolet the upper hand at intermediate tracks
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Aric Almirola opened up to Bob Pockrass after the race and described his opinions. He further stated that he would go to the garage and express this. Surely, his 11 years’ worth of experience can work wonders on the Toyota models. Almirola praised Toyota vehicles for short-track programs, but according to him, Chevys are much stronger and more durable at intermediates.
Aric Almirola said, “I would just go back to the shop on Monday morning and talk about it and debrief. And I feel like, with my experience, I can add a little bit of value. Just in, what I feel in the race car, and what I feel like we need to work on. Where I feel like the Chevys are a little bit better than us on the intermediate package. Our short track program is really, really strong. But I feel like on these types of racetracks, these high speed downforce racetracks we got a little bit of work to do.”
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He further added, “I’m gonna run Charlotte here in a couple weeks, so need to be better, for sure. The JRM cars have always been strong there. So we need to go to work and find some speed in our Toyota GR Supras on these downforce type racetracks.”
Despite all odds, Almirola’s performance was commendable at the tough-to-race Darlington, all credit goes to his manufacturers and JGR’s improved models.
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The No. 20 Toyota Supra for the Top 5 at Darlington
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Aric Almirola finished fifth as he led the Toyota team with a robust performance. Facing track position challenges and the competitiveness of the field, Almirola occasionally matched the race leader’s pace. He had a decent run this season since he returned to the Xfinity Series after driving full-time in the Cup last year. Despite a shaky start to the season, Almirola finished P2 at Richmond and won the next race at Martinsville. He was on the verge of winning it too in Darlington. But he had to be satisfied with a P5.
While he was aiming for a victory, Almirola recognized Justin Allgaier’s car’s superior speed. JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier declared his determination to persist in seeking victories in upcoming races as well. Proving Almirola right, he honed the #7 Chevy Camaro for JRM. The P2 and P4 positions, too, belonged to Chevy drivers Austin Hill and Sam Mayer. The P3 belonged to the only Ford driver on the list, Cole Custer.
Let’s see how things work out for Almirola and his team in the Charlotte race. It would be interesting to see if Toyota actually alters anything based on their No. 20 Xfinity driver’s experience.
