Speedweeks at Daytona International
Speedway started off with a bang on Thursday with wrecks in both practices for
the Budweiser Shootout.
A seven-car crash occurred 35 minutes into the first practice, as Denny Hamlin
tapped Mark Martin from behind on the backstretch, sending Martin into the
wall. He then swayed down the track, which triggered the multi-car pileup.
"I was trying to be cautious," Hamlin said. "You got two things going together
-- him at the last minute trying to check up and be cautious, and me at the
last minute trying to get behind him. Anytime there's a check-up point down
the straightaway, its going to happen."
Hamlin and Martin, along with Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray,
will use their backup cars for Saturday night's race. Clint Bowyer practiced
for Harvick, who was suffering from flu-like symptoms.
"Probably a case of both of us anticipating something where it caused a
flash," Martin said. "It looked like he was going to try to squeeze in on the
outside of me, so I made an effort to give him the lane. He anticipated to get
behind me"
The second wreck occurred in the opening minutes of the second practice, with
Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya making contact. Busch also will use a backup
car after his he hit the wall, while Montoya's car only suffered minimal
damage.
Jeff Burton topped the charts in the opening practice by turning a lap at
193.303 m.p.h., while Kasey Kahne led the way in the final session at 191.673
m.p.h.
Eligible drivers for the Shootout got their first opportunity to experience
NASCAR's recent rule modifications for Daytona. Last month, NASCAR announced
it is relaxing on bump-drafting rules and increasing the size of the
restrictor plate for Daytona.
Meanwhile, Carl Edwards will start on the pole for the Shootout after
selecting the top starting position among 24 drivers in a random drawing held
at Daytona.
"It's been a long time since I've been on a pole," Edwards jokingly said.
Edwards has not started on the pole in a Sprint Cup Series race since August
2008 at Bristol.
Harvick, the defending race winner, did not attend the drawing, but his crew
chief, Gil Martin, picked the second starting position for him.
Brian Vickers will start third, followed by Ryan Newman and Biffle.
Martin, Burton, Matt Kenseth, McMurray and John Andretti will roll off sixth
through 10th, respectively.
The race is scheduled to begin at 8:10 p.m. (et).
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