Aric Almirola secured a vital second-place finish in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, helping Joe Gibbs Racing claim the Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Championship for 2025. While Almirola did not cross the line first, his results ensured the team’s overall triumph in the owner’s championship, marking a significant point in the journey for both driver and organization.
The scene at Phoenix Raceway was more than another night at the track. Though Jesse Love took the checkered flag and his own driver’s title, the Joe Gibbs Racing crew and their family gathered around the No. 19 Toyota, celebrating an accomplishment shaped by determination, faith, and a return that not even Almirola himself had foreseen. The atmosphere radiated more than just professional achievement — it resonated with emotion and gratitude for a mission completed.
Almirola’s Return to Joe Gibbs Racing: A New Chapter
Two years before this championship moment, Aric Almirola thought his full-time racing days had ended. After finishing the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season with Stewart-Haas Racing, he stepped back to prioritize his family: his wife Janice, and their children, Alex and Abby. The decision to leave wasn’t out of exhaustion but a sense of completion, with Almirola feeling ready for life outside the driver’s seat.
Things shifted unexpectedly when Almirola received a call from Joe Gibbs, affectionately known as Coach, during a quiet evening. The invitation wasn’t just about filling a seat — it was about finishing his career where it all began and giving back to those who had set him on his path. Almirola took time to consider the offer, discussing it deeply with his family and reflecting on the meaning behind it. Ultimately, the pull of loyalty and thankfulness to the Gibbs family led him to accept.
“He said, ‘Hey, I think I got something you might be interested in. Be fun for both of us. I’d like for you to come back to Joe Gibbs Racing and finish your career here. It would mean a lot to me and our family,”
Joe Gibbs said, according to Almirola. Almirola added,
“J.D. [Gibbs] gave me an opportunity as a 19-year-old kid to become a professional race car driver, to get a paycheck to drive a race car.”
Time had come full circle for Almirola, whose early career was fostered by the late J.D. Gibbs. Now, two decades later, he found himself racing not for individual glory, but to give something back to Joe Gibbs Racing — the chance for another championship.
“I’m just so grateful that I got that opportunity and that 22 years later, I was able to win a championship for Joe Gibbs Racing. Not for me, but for Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s just really special,”
said Almirola.
Throughout it all, Almirola never lost focus on the team’s accomplishment.
“This will go down in history as Joe Gibbs Racing 2025 Xfinity Owner’s Championship, not Aric Almirola. I am so grateful to be a part of that and to deliver that to Joe Gibbs Racing,”
Almirola said.
An Unexpected Route to the Owner’s Championship
The final run for the Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Championship was anything but predictable. Almirola wasn’t originally scheduled for the end-of-season races at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. Initially, he agreed to a handful of Xfinity starts, mostly to provide guidance to younger drivers within the team’s stable.
But after securing a win at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, the possibilities changed. A candid meeting with the team followed, and the conversation shifted toward a realistic shot at the owner’s title.
“I won Bristol. It was like, Oh, boy, we might have a shot at this. Leading into Vegas, we sat down and talked. It was like, Hey, we need to seriously consider going to race for the Owner’s Championship,”
Almirola explained.
“I think we can do it. We went to Vegas. We won. Obviously put us in position to come here and have a chance to race for it again.”
From there, Almirola’s schedule grew unexpectedly as he, along with modified racing standout Justin Bonsignore, pieced together the final races. Bonsignore had been scheduled to drive the No. 19 car at Martinsville and Phoenix, but after Almirola’s wins, the possibility of clinching the owner’s title came into focus. Bonsignore made the magnanimous decision to step aside, allowing Almirola to race in the closing events.
“Justin Bonsignore was so gracious to give up Martinsville and the race here so that I could drive the 19 car,”
Almirola said with gratitude.
“Just really grateful to Justin for doing that.”
The entire process reflected Joe Gibbs’ ethos that success in racing is rooted in the strength of the people involved. The Phoenix celebration stood as a reunion, with Melissa Gibbs, J.D.’s wife, their sons Miller and Jason, Ty Gibbs after his own Cup Series efforts, and Coach’s wife Heather Gibbs connecting via phone call. It was a family gathering for a team victory, transforming a historic championship run into a testament to relationships and loyalty.
Fate also intervened for Bonsignore, who went on to compete at both Martinsville and Phoenix thanks to William Sawalich, Joe Gibbs Racing’s regular No. 18 driver, being sidelined with concussion-like symptoms. Bonsignore made the most of his opportunity, earning his first two top-10 Xfinity Series finishes to end the season.
Faith and Perspective Redefine Success
For Aric Almirola, faith has always played an integral role in guiding both his life and his career. As his time in NASCAR advanced, faith became the core of his decisions and how he saw himself as a driver.
“I’ve learned to just let God lead, and I’ll follow,”
shared Almirola.
“I tried for so much of my life and my career to white knuckle it, steer the ship. It’s been really fun for me the last couple years to just let God steer the ship. I’m just along for the ride.”
This approach changed more than his mindset — it shifted how he measured his accomplishments. Almirola openly acknowledged that, while he may have been considered a journeyman compared to NASCAR icons like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Larson, and Richard Petty, he has always been comfortable with his unique path.
“There’s only so many Jimmie Johnsons and Jeff Gordons. There’s only so many Dale Earnhardts and Kyle Larsons, Richard Pettys. I was not one of those. I am totally fine with that,”
he said.
“I’m Aric Almirola, and I’m exactly who God wants me to be.”
The uncertain future that lies ahead does not dim the satisfaction of this chapter. When asked if this would be his final race, Almirola replied with his characteristic mix of humor and authenticity, “Potentially, yeah.” He reflected,
“I left here last year, not knowing what to expect. I’m leaving here again, not knowing what to expect.”
An Emotional Victory and Its Meaning for Joe Gibbs Racing
Although Aric Almirola did not claim the checkered flag, the importance of his contribution to securing the Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Championship surpassed personal achievement. Surrounded by family, key figures from the organization including Joe Gibbs, and teammates like Justin Bonsignore, the night in Phoenix became a celebration not just of a trophy, but of stories, connections, and perseverance.
If this does prove to be Almirola’s final lap as a NASCAR driver, he concludes a career rich with fulfillment, respect among his peers, and a defining legacy as a dedicated competitor devoted to both faith and teamwork. The enduring impact of his role within Joe Gibbs Racing and the greater NASCAR community will serve as a lasting tribute — a fitting close to an extraordinary racing journey.
