Crash, blown engine for Earnhardt mar first practice at Daytona

February 20, 2013 Greg Engle Main Page, Top Stories 0

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, looks on as crew members work on the car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, looks on as crew members work on the car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 20: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, looks on as crew members work on the car in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The first practice session for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway was not without incidents Wednesday.  The trouble started early in the session when reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski slowed with what appeared to be engine trouble with his Penske Racing Ford. The team was able to diagnose the problem and found it to be a simple fuel problem that required only minor repairs. Keselowski was able to rejoin the field and complete the practice session.

“That’s not what you want when you’re in front of the pack because when your car slows down,” Keselowski said. “They’ve got nowhere to go and it could cause a wreck.  So we’re gonna spend a little extra time to make sure we’ve got whatever it is figured out.”

The only accident came when Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman got together entering turn 1. The Chevy of Newman came down into the Ford of Edwards. The ensuing crash also collected Mark Martin.  Both Edwards and Martin escaped significant damage, while the crew for Newman furiously worked on the Chevy for Newman in hopes of avoiding being forced into a backup car; a situation that would have made Newman start at the rear of Thursday’s Duel qualifier.  MORE>>>

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About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.