On lap 104, the sixth caution came out when Aric Almirola cut a left rear tire and spun in turn 3 after contact with Timmy Hill.
Hendrick Motorsports named Almirola a standby driver for the No. 48 team in case Jimmie Johnson needed to leave for the birth of his daughter.
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After being fastest in practice in Talladega, his crew chief Todd Parrott was suspended or violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy.
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In 2013 Almirola returned to Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 in the Sprint Cup Series; at Martinsville Speedway in October, the team ran the No. 41 to honor Maurice Petty's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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He also signed with Joe Gibbs Racing as a development driver under a partnership with former NFL player Reggie White.
On lap 177, the eighth caution flag was waved for a minor wreck exiting the tri-oval, when Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.'s car made contact with Aric Almirola.
Aric Almirola drove the car full-time in 2011 as a part of a 2 year deal with sponsorship from Unilever and ended up fourth in points in his first full time season.