NASCAR: Aric Almirola confirmed at Stewart-Haas Racing for 2020

Stewart-Haas Racing have confirmed that Aric Almirola is set to return to the organization with primary sponsorship from Smithfield Foods in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Aric Almirola is set to return to Stewart-Haas Racing for the third consecutive year in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, as the team and primary sponsor Smithfield Foods renewed their partnership with one another to keep him behind the wheel of the #10 Ford.

The 35-year-old Fort Walton Beach, Florida native signed with Stewart-Haas Racing as the replacement for Danica Patrick ahead of the 2018 season, and he has been sponsored by Smithfield Foods in both of his first two seasons driving for the team.

He opened up his Cup Series career in the 2007 season and spent four seasons driving part-time for various teams before landing a full-time ride in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports for the 2011 season.

From the 2012 season through the 2017 season, he drove full-time for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup Series, and he did so with primary sponsorship from Smithfield.

Here is what Almirola had to say about this contract renewal, according to NASCAR.

"“I said when I first came to Stewart-Haas Racing that this is the opportunity every driver wants, and I’m obviously very proud to have it continue. Our relationship with Smithfield is strong. From the customers, to the retailers and all of the employees, we take a tremendous amount of pride in representing the Smithfield brand. They’re our biggest supporters and it’s what drives us every time we hit the race track.”"

Here is what Stewart-Haas Racing team co-owner Tony Stewart had to add.

"“Aric is one of the most focused and determined drivers I’ve ever met, and he’s got the skills to match. He’s taken the opportunity here at SHR and seized it. Keeping him as the driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang was a priority and we’re very happy to have it continue.”"

Here is what Smithfield Foods senior marketing director Michael Merritt added.

"“The Smithfield brand has enjoyed great success with Aric Almirola and Stewart-Haas Racing. It’s a true partnership that performs on the racetrack, with retailers and our consumers. Aric resonates well with them because he’s genuine and, overall, a great ambassador for the company. He has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today and we’ve been a part of that journey for nearly a decade, and the payoff from all that hard work has been amplified by Stewart-Haas Racing.”"

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Almriola has earned two victories in his 310 starts in the Cup Series, including one in last year’s round of 12 playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway driving the #10 Ford. He also won the July race at Daytona International Speedway in the 2014 season, which clinched him his first playoff berth.

Last season, he qualified for the playoffs for the second time, and he finished in a career-high fifth place in the championship standings after advancing to the round of 8 and nearly winning the round of 8 finale at ISM Raceway to advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His previous career-high finish in the standings was 16th, which he recorded in the 2014 season.

He qualified for the playoffs again this season, but the 2019 season has been somewhat of a struggle for him after a solid first year with the team. He is still searching for not only his first victory but his first top three finish of the season, and he sits in 13th place in the championship standings after he was eliminated from the playoffs following the opening round, the round of 16.

The confirmation that Aric Almirola is set to return to Stewart-Haas Racing as the driver of the #10 Ford in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season means that half of the team’s four-driver lineup is solidified for next year, as Kevin Harvick is set to return as the driver of the #4 Ford.

Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez, the current drivers of the #14 Ford and the #41 Ford, respectively, do not have contracts to continue driving for the team next year, although there has been speculation that both will return. That said, there has also been speculation that one of them will be replaced by Stewart-Haas Racing Xfinity Series superstar Cole Custer.