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NASCAR: 10 drivers who deserve better rides in the Cup Series

By Asher Fair

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: David Ragan, driver of the #38 Shriners Hospital for Chldrn 95th Annvrsry Ford, and Ty Dillon, driver of the #13 GEICO Military Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: David Ragan, driver of the #38 Shriners Hospital for Chldrn 95th Annvrsry Ford, and Ty Dillon, driver of the #13 GEICO Military Chevrolet, lead the field to a restart during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, MI – AUGUST 12: Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, MI – AUGUST 12: Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 Smithfield Ford (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

#2 – Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports, No. 43 Ford

Aric Almirola, 33, began his NASCAR Cup Series career began back in 2007 when he drove one race for Joe Gibbs Racing and a few races for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. The next season, he drove a few races for Dale Earnhardt Inc. before making the transition to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to drive a few races in 2009. Also in 2009, he drove for Phoenix Racing, qualifying for one of the two races he attempted to qualify for.

In 2010, he started out driving for Phoenix Racing before making the transition to Tommy Baldwin Racing for one race, a race he failed to qualify for. He wrapped up 2010 driving for Richard Petty Motorsports before becoming a full-time Nationwide (now Xfinity) Series driver in 2011. he did not drive in the Cup Series at all that season.

In 2012, he picked up where he left off at Richard Petty Motorsports, and he has been driving for the team ever since. He has driven in 232 career Cup Series races, and he has one career victory to his name at Daytona in 2014.

In those 232 career races, Almirola has racked up 10 top 5 finishes and 29 top 10 finishes. So far this season, he has finished as high as 4th place twice at the Daytona 500 and at Talladega despite the fact that he missed seven races with a back injury he suffered in a crash at Kansas. His one other top 10 finish this season was a 9th place finish at Richmond.

While he currently trails a number of the other drivers on this list in the championship standings, Almirola is arguably the best driver listed. He missed seven races this season yet is still higher in the standings than four of the other nine drivers on this list. He definitely deserves a better ride.

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