A big crash on lap 6 brings out the first caution of the 2024 Daytona 500.
Brad Keselowski gave John Hunter Nemechek a push off of turn 4 and that sent the No. 42 car down into Harrison Burton in the No. 21.
Burton found Carson Hocevar in the No. 77 and they went sliding through the infield back up into traffic, collecting Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Kaz Grala, and Ryan Preece. The cars could not slow down in the grass due to all the rain the past two days causing the grass to be soaked. Hoecvar's car actually got stuck in the grass due to all the moisture.
FOX: NASCAR provided a video of the crash from their X account.
Another look at what happened. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/T11LKJOz2r
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2024
Cars Involved:
No. 3 Austin Dillon
No. 6 Brad Keselowski
No. 21 Harrison Burton
No. 36 Kaz Grala
No. 41 Ryan Preece
No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek
No. 77 Carson Hocevar
No. 84 Jimmie Johnson
Grala, Burton, and Hocevar have been taken to the garage are out of the race.
Meanwhile, the 7-time champion, Johnson, made repairs and came out two laps down. Johnson and the No. 84 team barely beat the Damage Vehicle Policy (DVP) clock. If the No. 84 car spent three more seconds on pit road, the car would've been parked for the remainder of the race. He has reported the repairs have helped the car as he has his steering in line to hopefully fight and get both his laps back.
Dillon, 2018 Daytona 500 champion, made repairs and was sent back on the track three laps down. Dillon has more substantial damage than Johnson. Dillon is not up to full speed and his chances of winning his second Daytona 500 appear to be done.
Nemechek, Keselowski, and Preece got away from the crash with little to no damage. Thie chances of winning the Harley J. Earl trophy are still intact.
After the wreck there will be 53 laps to go in stage 1.
