The Big One hit just 15 laps on the Daytona 500, triggered when Aric Almirola became pole winner Alex Bowman and started a 16-car accumulation.
Minutes later, the race was stopped by lightning and fans who had been socially distanced in the stands had to seek refuge in the crowded venue. It was followed by heavy rain that closed “The Great American Race” so it would be a long delay.
Christopher Bell started the melee when he pushed Almirola too hard to the front of the field and forced the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to tip over while trying to avoid a slip. Almirola ended up becoming Bowman on the right. Their contact caused others to collide, causing them to spin and slide on grass and mud. Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ryan Newman Daniel Suarez and Kurt Busch were among those involved.
“They were pushing us too hard too early,” Almirola said, according to NASCAR.com. “It’s a long, long race. Man, we were in a good position, just sitting there riding between the top two, three and the top 20 [Bell] he just came in with a great race and hit me really hard in a bad place, turned me right, broke our race car and finished the Daytona 500 too early. ”
According to NASCAR.com, Almirola, Bowman, Newman, Jones and Suarez are among those listed in the race.
Hendrick Motorsports had put Bowman and Byron in the front row.
Newman died almost in a terrible accident on the last lap of last year’s Daytona 500. Newman drove away safely on Sunday and even checked on Busch while sitting in his Chevy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.