Aric Almirola Earns First Top-Five Finish Since Talladega 2017

Aric Almirola came close to earning his second career victory on Sunday in the Foxwoods Resort and Casino 301 at New Hampshire. A late race caution and a miscue on pit road ultimately hurt the chances of his victory. Despite not earning the victory, his third-place finish set a season-high mark and put the No. 10 car in a position it hasn't been in almost 12 years. 

“I’m disappointed," Almirola said. "You would think I’d be really excited to run top-five, and I’m not. We had the best car, hands down. I’m really proud of everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing. They’re giving me incredible racecars, and we showed up with cars capable of running in the top-five and challenging to win races these last seven weeks. I’m really proud of everybody back at the shop. I’m really proud of (crew chief) Johnny Klausmeier and all the guys on this No. 10 team. We’re going to get Smithfield and Ford Motor Company and Mobil 1 and everybody that helps us out to victory lane really soon.”

His third place finish on Sunday resulted in the No. 10 cars first top-five finish since the 2006 Sharpie 500 at Bristol. Scott Riggs secured that finish, the last top five of his career. With the top-five finish, Almirola also becomes the 17th driver to earn a top-five finish in the No. 10 car. He joins Derrike Cope, Ricky Rudd, Johnny Benson, Elmo Langley, Tiny Lund, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough along with 11 other drivers.

The victory is somewhere around the corner for Almirola. When that date comes, he'll become the fifth driver ever to win in the No. 10. The last time the No. 10 went to victory lane was in 2002, almost 16 years ago. Johnny Benson Jr. picked up the first and only victory of his career at Rockingham. (Koelle,2018) 

Photo Credit: Brandon Wright/Brandon Wright Photography

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