By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
The backstretch turned into trouble for multiple cars during final practice for Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway.
A cloud of smoke and flying grass kicked off when Chase Elliott made contact with the No. 6 Ford of Ryan Newman, turning both cars and collecting Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin in the process.
Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota suffered the most severe damage, nosing into the outside wall before plowing into the grass.
“The last I saw was the No. 6 was crossing over my nose and I felt a tag from someone behind us,” Hamlin said. “It’s just part of it. This is what practice is for, to feel your car out. Everything seemed fine with the speed in the car, we just need to work to have a car secure enough to make moves.”
Elliott, who was stuck in the middle of the practice pack before making contact with Newman,
“I hate to tear stuff up [during the] first practice of the week,” Elliott said. “Certainly feel bad. We’re racing tommorow, so we’ll try not to wreck anything else.”
The cars of both Harvick and Newman were able to change tires at the crash site before returning to the garage areas for repairs.
