Aric Almirola is set to return to the Xfinity Series in 2024 after retiring from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the end of the 2023 season. The 40-year-old driver had made five starts for Joe Gibbs Racing before he was suspended following an altercation with Bubba Wallace during a competition meeting.
The incident took place in the days leading up to the Charlotte Xfinity race, where Almirola had been scheduled to compete. However, he was replaced by Ty Gibbs after the team deemed him as the instigator of the conflict. Despite the exact details of the dispute remaining unknown, sources have confirmed that Almirola is set to return from his suspension in July.
Almirola had a successful career in NASCAR, winning three races in 460 career starts and spending six seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing before returning to JGR on a part-time basis. This marked a reunion for Almirola with JGR, where he began his career and famously won at Milwaukee in 2007 after starting on the pole and relinquishing the car to Denny Hamlin during the race.
