WEST ALLIS, Wis. — The phrase “start and park” has a whole new meaning.
Rather than a team parking its car early, it now fits the bill for Aric Almirola.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was credited with winning Saturday’s AT&T 250 at The Milwaukee Mile, but teammate Denny Hamlin was driving the car when it took the checkered flag. Almirola was pulled from the seat with less than 60 laps complete.
The reason Hamlin had even made the trip from Sonoma, Calif., where the Nextel Cup Series was racing, was because Milwaukee is home to Rockwell Automation, which sponsors the car shared by the two drivers.
Almirola, who was scheduled to practice the car, won the pole during qualifying and got the nod to start the race when Hamlin’s helicopter was not cleared to land on the property.
Almirola led the first 43 laps and was running third when a caution flag waved for a wreck involving Ron Hornaday, Jr. on lap 57. Crew chief Dave Rogers then relayed to Almirola that he was to hand the wheel over to Hamlin during the pit stop.
Almirola climbed from the car, headed to the team’s hauler, changed clothes and left the track.

OUT: Denny Hamlin (right) watches as rookie teammate Aric Almirola climbs out of the No. 20 Chevrolet during Saturday's AT&T 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. (Christina Ramzel Photo)

With Hamlin buckled in, point-leader Carl Edwards continued his dominance, leading 123 laps. But, for the second week in a row, misfortune bit him late in the race.
After starting his portion of the event from the 31st spot a lap down, Hamlin finessed his way through the field and slid into the lead on lap 172. Five laps later,  Edwards was forced to pit for a suspected flat right-side tire.
Under a round of pit stops late in the running, Scott Wimmer moved into the lead. Jason Leffler pulled his Toyota into the mix, but neither had a chance.
Hamlin made a three-wide move 13 laps from the finish to take the point.
“Joe Gibbs Racing and Rockwell Automation had their two drivers here. What better way to showcase both of them than put both of them in one race,” Hamlin said. “When the first caution flag came out, they asked me, ‘Do you want to get in or not?’ I flew a long way to come here to race, but Aric was doing an exceptional job. I’m glad he gets the credit because he deserves the credit for sure.”
Edwards rebounded to finish eighth. He holds a 776-point lead over David Reutimann.