DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Clint Bowyer flipped end-over-end as a huge wreck broke out on the final lap of the second Daytona 500 qualifying race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Daytona 500 2014: Clint Bowyer flips during Budweiser Duel wreck
A multi-car accident that saw Clint Bowyer flip through the infield marred the final lap of the second Daytona 500 qualifying race.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The field was running two-wide to the checkered flag of the Budweiser Duel when Jimmie Johnson slowed as he ran out of gas. A tap from Jamie McMurray then sent Johnson, the defending Sprint Cup champion, into a spin.
In the aftermath, Michael Waltrip slammed the inside retaining wall, Martin Truex’s car became engulfed in flames, all the while Bowyer pirouetted through the infield. All drivers involved walked away uninjured, and all still qualified for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Johnson, McMurray, Waltrip, Truex, Bowyer, and David Ragan will have to go to backup cars and drop to the rear of the field. It is a particular blow for Truex, who was to start on the outside of the front row had he made it through the Duel unscathed with his Chevrolet intact.
“Cars spinning and crashing into the wall and nowhere to go,” Truex said. “I mean really that is all you can say about it. It’s unfortunate obviously, last corner, last lap to have something like that happen. It’s not the end of the world. We’ve got a good back-up car and it doesn’t matter really where you start here.”
The accident was the only incident of the evening, as the first Duel ran caution-free. Denny Hamlin won Duel No. 2, with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth taking honors earlier in the night.
Johnson accepted blame for causing the accident, and to no avail had tried to alert those behind that he was out of fuel.
“I feel terrible,” Johnson said. “To tear up that many race cars; to see the No. 15 flip. I feel terrible, and certainly want to apologize to everyone.”
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