NASCAR: 3 possible replacements for Aric Almirola in 2024
By Asher Fair
Possible Aric Almirola replacements for 2023: No. 3 – Charter sale
It’s no secret that Stewart-Haas Racing have struggled in recent years, and the 2023 season has seen them hit a new low. From 2014 to 2020, they averaged 6.57 wins per year and won fewer than five races just twice during that stretch. From 2018 to 2020 alone, they recorded two seasons of double-digit victories.
But since the end of the 2020 season, they have won just four races in total, and none of those wins have come in 2023. Barring an upset victory in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, the 2023 season will be their first winless season since 2008. Considering the fact that they didn’t even secure their first Cup Series win until 2009, this is less than ideal.
Is downsizing and becoming just a three-car team the right move?
Charters in in high demand at the moment, with prices having skyrocketed over the last few seasons alone, so they would likely have no issue making a sale.
Stewart-Haas Racing are clearly in somewhat of a rebuilding mode, so entering the 2024 season with Chase Briscoe, who sits in 29th place in the point standings, as their longest tenured driver probably isn’t the right move. Briscoe joined the team in 2021 and has one win to his name.
That said, there isn’t any true veteran to whom they could turn to help stabilize the operation moving forward. Why force another signing of a young and inexperienced driver?
Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. dark
Riley Herbst, who has made select Cup Series starts with Rick Ware Racing this year, has already been ruled out, having been signed to return to Stewart-Haas Racing’s Xfinity Series for a fourth season.