The Big One hit just 15 laps in the Daytona 500, triggered when Aric Almirola became pole winner Alex Bowman and started a 16-car pileup.
Minutes later, the race was stopped by lightning and fans who were socially distant in the stands were forced to seek shelter in the crowded hall. Heavy rain followed, halting “The Great American Race” for what will be a long delay.
Christopher Bell started the fight when he pushed Almirola too hard to the front of the field, forcing the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to bulge while trying to avoid a slide. Almirola eventually turned right into Bowman. Their contact caused others to collide, spinning and skidding through grass and mud. Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ryan Newman Daniel Suarez and Kurt Busch were among those involved.
“We just got pushed too hard too soon,” Almirola said, according to NASCAR.com. “It’s a long, long race. Man, we were in a great position, we were just sitting there in the top two, three and 20. [Bell] just came with a big run and hit me really hard in a bad place and it turned me to the right and ripped our race car to bits and our Daytona 500 finished way too early. “
Almirola, Bowman, Newman, Jones and Suarez are among those now listed as out for the race, according to NASCAR.com.
Hendrick Motorsports had put Bowman and Byron on the front row.
Newman nearly died in a horrific accident in the final lap of last year’s Daytona 500. Newman walked away safely on Sunday, even checking Busch while in his Chevy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.