Contact between Kasey Kahne and Regan Smith set off a Talladega-style pileup at the Bristol Motor Speedway that has eliminated Kahne, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Marcos Ambrose and sent Kevin Harvick to pit road for repairs. Kahne slid up to clear Smith for fifth position but the pair connected, sending Kahne bouncing off the wall and into a spin that saw Busch, Edwards, Ambrose, and Busch pile in.
The accident, which occurred at lap 25, continues Kahne and Busch's rough starts to the 2012 season. Kahne has now hit the wall in all four races he's run for Hendrick Motorsports this season and will likely finish deep in the field if his Chevrolet can even rejoin the field.
Busch and Edwards were expected to contend for the victory, and Kahne's Chevrolet had quickly moved up near the front of the field.
Greg Biffle led the opening laps from the pole easily, while A.J. Allmendinger ran second ahead of Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, and Brad Keselowski (who had minor involvement in the wreck).