Aric Almirola's Conditioning and Attitude Are on Track in NASCAR

And off track, too. 

NASCAR driver Aric Almirola jogged around a Kevin Harvick Foundation Boys and Girls volleyball event on Daytona Beach recently. He was in town as back up for Jimmie Johnson who at the time was waiting on the birth of his first child.

Almirola got to spend time in the 48 camp and stay in shape on beautiful Daytona Beach.

“Not much beach access in Moorseville, North Carolina,” Almirola said. “I don't get to do that very often. That was a rarity for me. I love to be outside. I love to be doing something. I hate just sitting still. I don't like to be inside. I like hunting. I like fishing. I like wake boarding. I just like being outside. I love to exercise."

“You caught me doing what I love to do. I was outside running on the beach in Daytona.”

Exercising will always help a driver stay fit for a hot NASCAR seat, but Almirola pointed out it goes way beyond conditioning. His time spent with the 48 team appeared to be a new climb up learning curves. 

“I felt like hanging out with the 48 team and Jimmie and Chad and all those guys on that Lowe's team there, I felt like I learned a lot,” Almirola said. “I felt like the number one thing I learned is how prepared they are in everything that they do, even something as simple as maybe we're going to have a driver change. They were fully prepared to do that. Every 'I' was dotted, every 'T' was crossed. 

“From that standpoint, I think that's what makes them champions, is how prepared they are. The saying in racing has gone on for years and years and years: The race is not won at the racetrack, it's won at the shop. These guys are a prime example of that.”

Almirola was able to observe the team at the shop and at the track and what he saw left an impression.

“How often do you ever hear the 48 having an issue or something left loose or something break?” Almirola asked. “It rarely happens.”

“You know how in-depth Chad is being prepared, watching film, studying the race from the previous years, the previous race earlier that year. And Jimmie the same. You know, they study it every day. They know exactly what they want out of the racecar. Nine times out of 10, they're able to get it.”

Almirola has had roller coaster career experiences in NASCAR in being trained by Joe Gibbs and his diversity program, advancing to Cup only to be released and then having an additional Cup chance cut short at DEI for lack of funding. 

“Obviously, looking back on it, I felt like the day they called me and told me the No. 8 car was shutting down, I didn't have a job anymore, I felt miserable,” Almirola said. “I felt like it was one of the worst days of my life. But really looking back on it, I feel like it's been a career changer for me.

“You know, I've been able to step back to the Truck Series, get in good equipment, be able to go out and show what I'm capable of when I have a great team around me.

“When one door closes another door opens, I guess you could say.”

Almirola has surged to the No. 2 position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving for Billy Ballew Motorsports in the No. 51 Toyota Tundra. 

“Man, I've learned in this sport you never know,” Almirola added. “You can't expect anything. You can't feel like you deserve anything. Everything is, you know—I don't know the right way to put it. Everything is very rewarding when it does happen.

“With this sport, things change at a moment's notice. So I've learned to not hang my hat on too many things; make sure that I keep digging, don't take anything for granted.”

As Almirola continues to learn and succeed, his skills and attitude are likely to result in a sustained Sprint Cup ride one day. 

He’s just one position away from a NCWTS championship now. 

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com