Austin Cindric car Photo: @bobpockrass
RacingBy Phillip Bupp on

After a bit of a rain delay, the NASCAR Cup Series got to racing at the Michigan International Speedway. After a competition caution, the ensuing restart turned into chaos as a bunch of contenders crashed, including Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric crashing nose first into the wall.

The crash was influenced by a competition caution on Lap 20 because of the rain delay. Ironically, competition cautions are done as a safety measure for teams to be able to check tire wear on a clean racetrack but a third of the field stayed out and took advantage of track position. With the leaders in the middle of the pack, the field got mixed up. J.J. Yeley, racing in an underfunded Rick Ware Racing car, got loose and triggered the multi-car crash.

Nine cars were involved in the wreck including Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Aric Almirola, and Cindric. Cindric certainly got the worst of it, crashing head first into the wall, but he was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

While many, including NBC’s Steve Letarte, wondered why someone in a much slower car was being put in a position where they were going to get passed by a lot of cars early in a race, they also had concerns about Cindric’s health.

[Photo: Bob Pockrass]

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

View all posts by Phillip Bupp