BUSCH: Hamlin and Almirola share Milwaukee win.

Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin made history at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday night as they combined to win the NASCAR Busch Series AT&T 250.

After being unable to land at the Milwaukee Mile due to cars parked on the helipad following his cross country trip from the Infineon Raceway in California to the famous flat one-mile oval in Wisconsin, Hamlin was forced to watch the first 60 laps of Saturday's race as polesitter and early race leader Almirola successfully paced the field.

However the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team took the decision to swap drivers under the caution flag on lap 60 and even though they lost a lap to the leaders Hamlin was soon able to fight his way into the 'Lucky Dog' position and regained the lead lap with 100 laps to go.

The combination of some superb passing and a late race puncture for championship leader Carl Edwards gave Hamlin a shot at the lead, which he took in a fine three-wide move going into turn one with six laps to go.

Once in the lead Hamlin never looked back and became the first relief driver to win a Busch race in the history of the championship even though starting driver Almirola will be credited with the victory.

Scott Wimmer and Jason Leffler finished second and third with teenager Brad Coleman an excellent fourth, veterans Jason Keller and Todd Bodine fifth and sixth, David Reutimann seventh and Edwards eighth.

Despite the puncture and subsequent eighth place finish Edwards increases his championship lead to 776 points as second place driver Dave Blaney wasn't in action this weekend. As a result Reutimann moves into second with rookie David Ragan third, Blaney fourth and Leffler, the first non Cup Series regular, fifth overall.