The Big One hit just 15 laps in the Daytona 500, caused when Aric Almirola became pole vaulter Alex Bowman and started a 16-car stack.
Minutes later the race was stopped by lightning and fans who were socially in the stands had to seek refuge in the busy corridor. Heavy rain followed and “The Great American Race” closed for a long delay.
Christopher Bell started the disappointment when he pushed Almirola too hard near the front of the field and forced the driver of Stewart-Haas Racing to bubble while trying to avoid a slide. Almirola eventually turned right into Bowman. Their contact caused others to collide, causing them to turn and slip through grass and mud. Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ryan Newman Daniel Suarez and Kurt Busch were among those involved.
“We just pushed too hard too early,” Almirola told NASCAR.com. “It’s a long, long race. Man, we were in a good position, and just sat there and drove around in the top two, three and the 20 [Bell] just came up with a big run and hit me really hard in a bad spot and it turned me right and tore our race car and ended our Daytona 500 way too early. ‘
Almirola, Bowman, Newman, Jones and Suarez are among those now offered for the race, according to NASCAR.com.
Hendrick Motorsports put Bowman and Byron in the front row.
Newman nearly died in a gruesome crash on the final lap of last year’s Daytona 500. Newman walked away safely on Sunday and even went to look at Busch while sitting in his Chevy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.