Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire >Brad Keselowski makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Denny Hamlin competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Chase Elliott competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Ryan Blaney competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola will honor hero Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor during the Coca-Cola 600 with the fallen veteran s name on his car. Monsoor was awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing himself onto a grenade to save other members of his SEAL team in Iraq.
With darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off the surprise victory, the first one of the year for Stewart-Haas Racing. Aric Almirola smiles as he holds up a giant lobster after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. At left is Dave McGrath, general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Aric Almirola Overcomes Pressure to Upset NASCAR Playoff Picture
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver was 27th in the standings and is now in the Round of 16.
Foxwoods Resort Casino 293, the stakes couldn’t have been clearer for Aric Almirola.
Brad Keselowski had undercut Almirola and Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to take the lead, but the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 was inching back towards the front with his entire season … and perhaps . career on the line.
It’s been a miserable campaign for Stewart-Haas, but especially for its 15-year veteran driving the Smithfield Foods Ford Mustang.
Almirola entered the weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway 27th in the championship standings and well out of a playoff spot. In a contract year and the Next Gen car looming over the horizon, only a victory could reverse the fortunes of the 34-year-old.
Ford drivers took five of the top six spots.
NASCAR started the race under wet conditions and that decision turned into a disaster when Kyle Busch, the polesitter, spun on the slick track and wrecked only six laps into the race. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin also spun and the red flag was waved to stop the race. Truex and Hamlin returned to race. Busch’s race in the No. 18 Toyota was over and he bit his tongue on NASCAR’s call to start the race.
“It never should have gone green to begin with, but then it kept getting worse and worse lap over lap,” Busch said. “We’ve been talking about it for two laps that it was raining. There’s no sense in saying what I want to say, it doesn’t do you any good.”
Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire
Brad Keselowski makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Denny Hamlin competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Chase Elliott competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Ryan Blaney competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa