BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Aric Almirola will be a prominent figure on the NASCAR Xfinity Series starting grid after setting his schedule for the remaining races in 2024.
According to an announcement from Joe Gibbs Racing, Almirola will control the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra for the remaining seven races on the Xfinity Series schedule. He will try to add to the entry's seven wins, which helped JGR secure the regular-season owner's championship.
Almirola won one of these races, which took place at Martinsville Speedway. Ryan Truex won at Dover Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. John Hunter Nemechek won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway.
Christopher Bell won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway.
With seven wins, our No. 20 team won the @NASCAR_Xfinity regular season owner’s championship!@Aric_Almirola will be in the car for the final seven races.#TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/CZ4R46BifW
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) September 21, 2024
The original plan heading into the season was for Almirola and Nemechek to share the No. 20 for the majority of the race schedule. The season started with Joe Gibbs Racing following this plan, but unforeseen circumstances caused a disruption.
Almirola made five starts early in the season split between the No. 19 and No. 20. He posted three top-five finishes and the win at Martinsville Speedway. The veteran driver then missed an extended amount of time in the middle of the season while serving a reported suspension from the organization.
Almirola made his return to the Xfinity Series in July and competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He finished third in his first race back with Joe Gibbs Racing. He then finished 26th at Watkins Glen International.
Almirola's schedule will now include Kansas Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, the Charlotte Roval, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway.
This schedule will provide Almirola with an opportunity to sweep the season's races at Martinsville. It will also allow him to pursue his second Xfinity win at Talladega.
Of course, the bigger goal for Almirola will be helping the No. 20 maintain its lead in the owner's championship battle. The entry is one point ahead of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and nine points ahead of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
The No. 81 of Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 00 of Stewart-Haas Racing are both 10 points behind the No. 20 heading to Kansas Speedway.