By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
The Food City 500 race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway started off on the wrong foot for numerous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
Kevin Harvick and AJ Allmendinger both crashed in the opening practice session of the weekend.
According to Allmendinger, the car just spun out from underneath him in turn one, but the team will not go to a backup car.
A part on the No. 4 Ford Fusion for Harvick broke which sent him into the turn three wall.
“Something obviously either came off or broke in the front suspension. It looks more like the right-front, to tell you the truth. It definitely wasn’t a tire failure or anything like that, but just going in the corner as soon as I let off the gas it just hung a right, so it’s unfortunate for our Busch Beer/Jimmy John’s Ford, but we’ll get another one out and do it again.”
According to the NASCAR rule book, Harvick will have to start at the rear of the field on Sunday.
Ryan Blaney was fastest in the opening session with a best speed of 129.877 mph.