By Jerry Jordan, Editor
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Cody Ware was running his race and trying to stay out of trouble when Brandon Jones got spun going into the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway, went through the grass and then came back up on the track as Ware tried to dive below him.
The impact looked brutal but both drivers were okay and there was nowhere for Ware to go. He turned his car but it wasn’t enough as the No. 18 Toyota continued to spin out of control about 100-feet past the start/finish line.
“I saw the 19 spinning through the grass as I was entering the tri-oval,” Ware told Kickin’ the Tires. “I was backing down coming to the green checkered (Stage 2) but then he came all the way up the track. By the time I saw him coming up, I cut down but it wasn’t enough and still got him in my right rear.”
Ware said he will definitely be sore in the morning but other than his pride, he is fine. He was running in the 22nd spot at the time. He will start in Sunday’s 63rd Annual Daytona 500 in the No. 51 Nurtec OTC Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing.
Jones admitted he was trying to block the top lane at the time of the crash but ended up getting spun out of control. It looked like he would keep the car in the ballfield area but it snapped sideways in the wet grass and sped back across the track.
“I was doing my job. I was trying to block that lane,” Jones said, after leaving the infield care center. “We were getting close to that stage end and I’m assuming the teammates were wanting to break off for that reason and try to get to the front. We were getting kind of left, so I was trying to make some last-minute moves to try to protect myself as best as I could. It just didn’t work out, but I have so much confidence after this race to go onto the next superspeedway when we come back – I’m looking forward to it.”
There were nine cautions during the race and one of the crashes resulted in the red flag being displayed to halt the action. In all, 16 drivers were sent to the infield care center as a result of numerous crashes throughout the 40th Annual Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner 300.