The wreck started when Mears' No. 5 shot up the track in turn 2, got loose, spun around and slid back down the track slamming teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the passenger side. Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 then spun and hit the wall drivers side.
Meanwhile, Mears car slid back up the track and slowed to a near stop along the wall heading the same direction as traffic when Sam Hornish Jr. slid behind him and lifted the No. 5 up in the air and then over on its roof. Fire then spewed from Hornish's engine while safety workers quickly jumped to aid both drivers and put the fire out.
All drivers involved -- including Reed Sorenson who was involved -- walked away OK, but very frustrated. Earnhardt Jr. had the most visible anger:
"The track ain't ready today. We rushed into this [...] " said Earnhardt Jr, referring to NASCAR trying to get the race underway.Denny Hamlin wrecked a few laps earlier to bring out the race's first caution after he got loose in turn 3 and slid up and contacted the wall.
"42 other drivers agree that we should not be driving today," said Hamlin. "I hit a slick spot and my car took off. My car just took off after I hit a wet spot."A red flag was brought out after the Mears incident and as of 7:40pm/ET the race had not been restarted due to water seeping into the race track because NASCAR might have finally saw what the drivers saw -- the track was simply too wet to race on.
Hopefully we'll get it going sometime tonight...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-25-2008 @ 8:43AM
El said...
NASCAR made a mistake. The whole race should be restarted.
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2-25-2008 @ 11:00AM
Ron said...
In light of how this track was not ready, I feel that those involved in accidents should be allowed to start with back-up cars and moved to the rear, no laps down!!
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2-26-2008 @ 7:18PM
jeff said...
Jr has had bad luck. It is time for it to change. Next week will be better. They should not have started the race as bad as i wanted to see it.
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2-25-2008 @ 8:17PM
Charlie said...
Nascar cost drivers Safety First of all and Drivers very critical points. But they would never admit there mistake that is so called above those BIG IDIOTS.
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2-25-2008 @ 9:17PM
99fan said...
jimmy johnson and jeff gordon were some of the drivers who rode around in the pace car and looked at the track! they didnt have a problem with it....
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2-25-2008 @ 11:57PM
Kim said...
Sure was a crazy wreck indeed. Props to Earnhardt though for waiting it out and to his team for putting his car back together again, kinda like Humpty Dumpty. He had nothing to gain today by racing (couldn't gain any spots because he was down so many laps) but he kept on a truckin for the practice. Gotta give the guy props for that.
And poor Casey. Oh My God. When he wrecked and got turned on his side and the cars were set ablaze, it was truly amazing that both drivers walked away unharmed. I love Mears. He is such a kind person. I would really like to see him have a successful year this year. Casey, put this week behind you and come out strong next Sunday!
Kim
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2-26-2008 @ 1:20PM
dmueller53 said...
The excuses are starting already... while Jr was "chillin" (as he put it) inside a car from Hendrick - just like his teammates, Gordon was checking out - and many of the other good drivers were passing cars and moving to the front - all on the same track Jr was on.
Last year it was DEI engines (odd Truex didn't have as many problems??)
Kyle B is benefitting from the right work ethic, running as often as possible, while Jr does Wrangler commercials.
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2-26-2008 @ 2:10PM
Brent Will said...
Truex is making Jr look bad.But who isn't making
him look bad.He isn't any good.He should put his
Sister in that car and let Jr hang out with his male
friends or maybe play some more video games??Or do
somemore tv shows.Anything except try to win
Championship.
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2-26-2008 @ 4:05PM
99FAN said...
unless i was seeing things DALE JR and MEARS wasnt the only ones in the wreck! why make a big deal out of it just because jr was in it. what about sam hornish and reed sorenson? oh thats right,they dont count because they dont drive for hendrick..
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2-26-2008 @ 6:50PM
Kim said...
Ah, dmueller53:
No excuses for Earnhardt are needed on this occasion. He was an innocent victim of a vicious wreck. Did you not see the race? He had nowhere to go. He was hit hard and his car was destroyed. He actually did a good job preventing an even bigger accident by not hitting someone else (that's referred to as good control of your own car in NASCAR). I am not a big Earnhardt fan or anything, but seriously, the "bashing" is ridiculous. The track conditions were inperfect to say the least. Only the drivers who weren't having problems thought the track was okay.
Kim
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