NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon, of the number 24 car, makes his way toward the track for Sprint Unlimited practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, (REUTERS/Brian Blanco)
It took less than 10 minutes for the first big wreck in the first NASCAR Sprint Cup practice Friday ahead of next Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Matt Kenseth, making his debut in the No. 20 Toyota, moved down the track at Daytona International Speedway into the path of Kurt Busch in the No. 78 Chevrolet sparking a five car crash.
As Kesneth and Busch collided they were hit by Mark Martin in the No. 55 Toyota, the No. 99 Ford of Carl Edwards and the No. 42 Chevrolet of Juan Pablo Montoya.
Drivers had warned of more big crashes at Daytona in the new Generation 6 race cars after off season testing last month at the 2.5-mile oval.
“I had no idea that Kurt was underneath me,” Kenseth said.
Busch said that Kenseth came across his nose and he had nowhere to go.
“Six weeks of preparation to come down here to Daytona and it’s over in six laps,” Busch said.
