4LT GS RoadsterDaytona Beach, FL. – Several Sprint Cup drivers were forced to backup cars as a result of wrecks in Wednesday’s two practice sessions at Daytona International Speedway.
In the first session, a wreck involving Derrike Cope, Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann sent all three to backup cars.
In the second session, Mike Bliss got loose and ignited a multi-car wreck that collected Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. Johnson, Bliss and Logano are also moving to backup cars while Hamlin’s team was repairing his.
"I was just riding along and thought everything was fine, and the next thing you know, I was in the middle of it," Johnson said.
Michael Waltrip also spun through the infield during the final practice but did not do serious damage to his No. 51 Toyota.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a little sideways after getting bumped from behind by Hamlin, but got the car straightened out at 190 mph.
Earnhardt said over his radio that Hamlin "doesn't know how to bump draft."
"I think he made an aggressive move with (Jamie McMurray) and I followed him," Hamlin said.
"I think I was pushing him and he was steering all over the race track and it just may have lifted his car up at that point. But a relatively good save."
A few minutes later, when asked about his bump-drafting technique, Hamlin joked that, "Dale Jr. said I (stink) at it."
Marcos Ambrose was fastest in the final session, while Matt Kenseth led the way in the first session.
Bump-wrecking plagues Wednesday's Cup practices | www.thatsracin.com
