Aric Almirola Wins Eventful Race at Daytona

Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 United States Air Force Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 after the race was called for weather at Daytona International Speedway on July 6, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by: Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images
Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 United States Air Force Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 after the race was called for weather at Daytona International Speedway on July 6, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo by: Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images

It was a rough weekend at Daytona International Speedway where Mother Nature and slick track conditions played a part in the abbreviated Coke Zero 400 on Sunday.

The driver who was happy to see rain come down was Richard Petty Motorsports’ Aric Almirola who took the famed No. 43 back to Victory Lane – the same place it was parked 30 years ago at Daytona when Richard Petty won his 200th race.

It took Almirola a while to get there.

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