Bizarre race in Texas...so far
Between the jet driers breaking hinges on hoods and effecting the cowl flaps, and Dale Jr's wreck, this is already a weird event.
Photo by: Michael C. Johnson
The NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway, already a day late due to rain showers yesterday is finally underway. But the race is really weird so far.
It's not a night race, so we can't really tell if there is a full moon out, but we are under the second caution after only 14 laps.
The first ten laps were run under caution, to get some heat int he track and dry the remaining wet patches before going green.
During that time, multiple driver, starting with outside pole sitter Brad Keselowski coming down pit lane with a broken hood hinge. Then more and more drivers were coming down pit lane with issues with their cowl flaps.
Drivers were driving too close to the jet driers that were on track, and it caused the air pressure in the hood area to effect these areas, causing some minor damage to some.
Then NASCAR gave the effected drivers their starting spots back.
Then, once they finally got going green Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself hard in the outside tri-oval wall after clipping the inside grass.
Earnhardt admitted his own mistake, as the ride heights of the cars do not allow them to run through the grass.
Team mate Jimmie Johnson was riding behind Earnhardt Jr, and was peppered with bits of Earnhardt's car, causing damage to the front clip of his car, as well as a large dent in his hood and windshield.
What a weird start to this race.
Update: Lap 29. Kevin Harvick goes up in smoke.
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