On the second lap of the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, a massive crash unfolded at the back of the field as drivers scrambled to make up ground.
Ryan Preece was on the outside of a three-wide situation, battling with Todd Gilliland and Kyle Larson. Preece and Gilliland touched, and all three cars got tangled together.
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A multi-car crash ensued, and Preece backed into the Turn 1 wall at a high rate of speed. With a full load of fuel, the No. 60 car erupted into flames, but he quickly climbed out of the destroyed car.
Preece, Gilliland, and Larson also collected Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Michael McDowell.
“I’m fine, but I seem to take big hits,” said Preece after being released from the infield care center. “But no, I don’t know what happened. Obviously, I got to see a replay, but if it was anything, it was probably close on my part. Going into Turn 1, and just got sideways … “If it was my fault, I’m sorry. Tough way to not finish a race on Lap 1.”
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Now, this may not actually be race over for some of the cars that were already locked into the third segment, such as Larson and Blaney — who both went behind the wall. If they can fix their cars, they can rejoin the race at the back of the field for the start of the final 200-lap segment. However, they cannot roll out the backup cars.
“I didn’t really see much,” said Blaney. “I knew they were three-wide ahead of me and it looked like someone got hooked or something. I thought I missed the main wreck that happened above me, and then I think some guys got tangled underneath and came up into me. Just stinks … I don’t know if we can get it fixed or not. We’ll see, but an unfortunate day. I see my guys bringing out bumpers and stuff, so maybe we’ll get back in for the last segment.”
Blaney did return to the race just before the start of the final segment, as did Larson after making extensive repairs.
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But the race is essentially over for those who had significant damage and also had to race their way into the final segment, including Preece.
The race was red-flagged for cleanup, with five cars that were forced to go to the garage (Preece, Gilliland, Larson, Blaney, Custer). Suarez stayed on track, but he he was wounded and quickly fell off the lead lap.
End of segment pileup
Later on, the end of the first segment reflected the start, as another multi-car crash broke out on the frontstretch. Elliott, Bell, Nemechek, Busch, Smith, Gragson, Buescher, Herbst, and Allmendinger all suffered damage, but thankfully, no fires that time around.
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Ryan Preece after fire damage, RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Preece after fire damage, RFK Racing Ford
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