A crash in the early moments of the rain-delayed Sprint Cup practice at Daytona has altered the complexion of the start of Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was involved in a chain-reaction accident with Martin Truex Jr. exiting the fourth turn, doing heavy damage to the front, rear, and left side of the No. 88 Chevrolet.
Because Earnhardt will have to go to a backup car, he will relinquish his pole position before the start for both the Gatorade Duel and the Daytona 500. Truex’s No. 56 Toyota was also damaged heavily. He too will require a backup car.