Brian Scott scores career best finish at Talladega

Brian Scott crosses the line 2nd behind Joey Logano Sunday

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Before Sunday's race at Talladega, Richard Petty Motorsports had suffered through 31 races without a top-10 finish. Drivers #44-Brian Scott and #43-Aric Almirola changed that. Scott ran a perfectly crafted race and finished second to #22-Joey Logano, and Almirola came home eighth after working his way forward during the final 40 laps of the Hellman's 500.

"A good finish always helps," Scott said. "It helps with the team. It helps with the guys at the shop, the morale. Just trying to get any bit of a bright spot in this year has been difficult. I think that this is by far the brightest spot that we've had in a really challenging 2016 for Richard Petty Motorsports.

I don't know. … I guess the results and what this does for us going forward is yet to be determined. But just proud. I mean, the guys have worked hard all year. They've deserved a lot better finishes than we've given them. Just proud to deliver a good, solid top five, to do my job behind the wheel to give us a shot at the win-just have a good day for Richard Petty Motorsports."

Scott's previous best finish in his first 48 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts was 12th (two times), most recently at Auto Club Speedway in March. NASCAR Wire Service