NASCAR: Aric Almirola wants the pressure of driving for Stewart-Haas Racing

Aric Almirola is on his was to Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, and he wants the pressure that comes along with it.

While Danica Patrick, who announced in September that she would be leaving Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of this season, has never been a great or even a decent NASCAR Cup Series driver, her extremely high popularity makes it a challenge to replace her.

But Aric Almirola, 33, who was just announced as her replacement in the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the 2018, feels like he is up to the challenge and is ready to face the pressure that comes with making the jump from a one-car team to one of the few top-tier organizations in the Cup Series — but not because of who he is replacing.

Here is what Almirola had to say about wanting the pressure that comes along with his move to the top-tier organization of Stewart-Haas Racing.

"“I want the pressure, right? There are two types of athletes in the world. There’s the athletes that just want to be a part of the show and there’s athletes who want to make the show.”“I feel like I’m part of the latter category, I want the pressure, I want the ball in my hands when it comes down to the game-winning shot. I don’t want to have an excuse that my equipment is not what where it needs to be. This is that opportunity. I want to contend for wins and championships. I also want to contribute to this team to help us all perform and contend for championships.”"