Truex debuts for new team
Chase Elliott took blame for the first crash of NASCAR’S new season on a blustery day at Daytona International Speedway that was shortened by rain.
Martin Truex Jr. topped the speed chart in his debut for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Bubba Wallace jumped to the top of Saturday’s second session before weather ended NASCAR’S Cup Series practice early.
Rosters were needed to track all the offseason changes and new faces preparing for the season-opening Daytona 500.
Kurt Busch, winner of the Daytona 500 just two years ago, now drives for Chip Ganassi Racing in Jamie Mcmurray’s old seat. Mcmurray, the 2010 Daytona 500 winner, will close his career next Sunday with one last appearance in “The Great American Race.”
Daniel Suarez got Busch’s old seat at Stewart-haas Racing, and Suarez was only available because Gibbs released him to make room for Truex, who formerly drove for Denverbased Furniture Row Racing. Richard Childress Racing hired Daniel Hemric to replace Ryan Newman in a rebranded No. 8.
Newman moved to Roush Fenway Racing, and his first stint in his new ride ended in a multi-car accident less than an hour into opening day. Elliott said he crowded Newman in traffic for Sunday’s exhibition race and caused the crash.
He even apologized to rival teams for tearing up equipment.
“It looks like I just messed up. It happens,” Elliott said.
The accident caused enough damage to force Elliott and Denny Hamlin into backup cars for Sunday’s all-star event.
Hamlin was only on track to test his car in traffic, a move that ended in crumpled sheet metal but one he defended as the right decision.
“I’m a huge advocate of going out there in the pack,” Hamlin said. “These things happen ... really no fault of anyone.”
Two Daytona 500 qualifying practices were largely uneventful as teams gauged the speed and handling of their cars before Sunday’s time trials. There are six drivers vying for four “open” spots in the Daytona 500 field, raising qualifying stakes.
Ryan Truex is trying to join his brother in the Daytona 500 field.