Something happened at the Clash at Daytona that hadn’t happened since June 4, 2017 – Jimmie Johnson being in 1st place at the end of a race. How he got there could be seen as a source of contention.
While running in second on lap 55, Johnson and race leader Paul Menard got together, causing a wreck that would ensnare over half the field.
Menard had this to say about the wreck to Fox Sports 1 :
I moved down a little bit and the next thing I knew, I was getting turned in the left rear. We tore up the car for no good reason. … It sucks that aggressive side drafting caused that big old crash.”
Johnson had this to say to FS1 about his take on what happened:
We could see (the rain) coming, I got below him before he blocked. I think he came down a little bit to defend and block. I moved inside of him … and he just came over. I feel sorry for Paul and other teams that lost race cars, but I’m here to win races.”
Rain was a factor in today’s race, with the event delayed three times because oft he wet stuff before ultimately ending the day early.
NASCAR results from Advance Auto Parts Clash
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kurt Busch
- Joey Logano
- Ryan Blaney
- Alex Bowman
- Austin Dillon
- Chase Elliott
- Aric Almirola
- Ryan Newman
- Daniel Suarez
- Jamie McMurray
- Kevin Harvick
- Paul Menard
- Kyle Busch
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Clint Bowyer
- Denny Hamlin
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Larson
- Erik Jones
