WEST ALLIS - As the helicopter carrying Denny Hamlin headed for another landing spot after being denied permission to set down near the Milwaukee Mile early Saturday evening, it appeared Hamlin's 1,800-mile commute was going to be for naught.

After Aric Almirola qualified and started the NASCAR Busch Series AT&T 250 in Hamlin's place, it looked all but certain Hamlin - a Nextel Cup Series regular making the commute from Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. - was going to be a spectator.

And Hamlin was - for 58 laps.

Then, a "group decision" - more than likely spearheaded by sponsor Rockwell Automation's desire to have Hamlin drive the car - led to Hamlin hopping in and replacing Almirola in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Chevrolet during a caution on Lap 59.

It turned out to be the right call - Hamlin wound up taking the checkered flag - but it was one that left everyone involved feeling somewhat awkward when it was over.

"It's tough," crew chief Dave Rogers said. "Denny really didn't want to get in it. Aric didn't really want to get out."

Almirola, who put the car on the pole and led the first 43 laps, appeared visibly frustrated after getting out of the car. He left the track without comment.

But as good as the 23-year-old Almirola had been running, Hamlin was even better.

He proved it by working his way back to the front after finding himself in 31st place, and a lap down after the time-consuming driver switch.

And the 26-year-old Hamlin left a lasting impression on the announced crowd of 41,925 by passing Jason Leffler and Wausau native Scott Wimmer with a gutsy inside move while the trio was three-wide with 13 laps to go.

"Denny set us up like a couple of bowling pins and went right by us both," said Leffler, who finished third. "I knew that was coming when we were going down the back straightaway. I could see it."

Hamlin then drove away from Wimmer and Leffler on a restart with five laps to clinch the win.

"I didn't want to (replace Almirola)," Hamlin said. "I knew he would be really upset as well as he was running at the time. But we've got to do what we've got to do. It definitely wasn't my choice, but it was the sure thing to come out here and get this win after such a long trip.

"Not being able to land. ... and sitting out the first 60 laps, it was amazing to come back and win this thing."

Hamlin's effort marked the first time a relief driver has finished first in a Busch Series race since Harry Gant did so after replacing Jack Ingram at Darlington Raceway in April 1985.

Hamlin, however, won't be recognized as the race's winner.

That distinction will go to Almirola, who also claims the driver points and prize money because he started the race.

"I flew a long way to come here and race, but Aric was doing an exceptional job, and I'm glad he gets credited for this win because he deserves the credit, for sure," Hamlin said. "I was just lucky to be able to drive it."

Carl Edwards, meanwhile, didn't enjoy the same kind of luck.

After making his own frenzied flight from California in time to qualify ninth, the Nextel Cup regular and Busch Series points leader quickly drove to the front.

Edwards assumed the lead on Lap 44 and led 123 laps before a miscue on pit road sent him from the lead to seventh place with 84 laps to go. Two laps later, Edwards' right rear tire went flat after he ran over debris. He wound up eighth.

"You have good luck and bad luck in racing," Edwards said.

"We just kind of had a bad luck night. But it was still fun."

Wimmer, who qualified third, held off Leffler over the final five laps to earn a second-place finish, his best of the season.

"I just drove as hard as I could," said Wimmer, who has finished fourth or better in each of the last four races. "Unfortunately we weren't very good on the short runs all night. Those last few restarts just killed us. Maybe we'll get a win one day, maybe we won't. I don't know."

Sun Prairie native Todd Kluever finished 18th, one lap down. Mauston native Kelly Bires was 30th and Pardeeville's Frank Kreyer wound up 34th after making contact with the wall on Lap 217.