KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Aric Almirola’s path to Stewart-Haas Racing took 10 years and included one of the worst days of his racing career.

Almirola was a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing back in 2007 and had a chance to earn his first career victory while filling in for Denny Hamlin in an Xfinity Series race at Milwaukee. Only the sponsor wanted Hamlin in the car, and Almirola had to get out in the middle of a race he was dominating.

Hamlin closed out the win, which is credited in the record books to Almirola. He doesn’t accept the victory.

Tony Stewart was a Joe Gibbs driver at the time, and never forgot that day at Milwaukee. It was in part why he hired Almirola to replace Danica Patrick in the No. 10 Ford next season.

“I think a lot of people forgot about that race and how dominant Aric was,” Stewart said Wednesday. “He qualified on the pole and, I mean, anybody that remembers watching that race, he didn’t have small leads, he had huge leads up to the point where he got out of the car.”