Brutal First Big One At Daytona Collects Jimmie Johnson And Others

What’s Happening?

As the 2024 running of the Daytona 500 finally commenced, the drivers were eager to take to the high banks of the superspeedway. Maybe a little too eager. After only running 5 laps, things got a little dicey mid-pack. After an aggressive shove from behind, John Hunter Nemechek got squirrely, resulting in a multi-car incident.

You Need To Know:

• The accident was triggered by an overly aggressive push from behind by Brad Keselowski. This sent the No. 42 of John Hunter Nemechek into the No. 21 of Harrison Burton who then collected rookie driver of the No. 77 Chevy, Carson Hocevar.
• Although initially, the incident looked to be contained to just those three drivers, Burton’s No. 21 cut back up on the track into traffic. This caused a brutal hit between him and the No. 36 Ford of Kaz Grala, which later collected Austin Dillon and Jimmie Johnson. While Johnson was able to continue, albeit a couple of laps down, Dillon, Burton, Grala, and Hocevar retired from the race.
• The incident collected some big-named drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Austin Dillon, sparking some reactions online. By and large, most fans are gutted by Jimmie, once again, being caught up in an on-track incident in the opening laps of a race.

Early trouble. Harrison Burton takes a big hit. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/AkfbtBYNe8

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2024

The Main Characters

A total of 7 cars were collected in the accident. These drivers include Brad Keselowski, John Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton, Carson Hocevar, Kaz Grala, Austin Dillon, and Jimmie Johnson. In the video below provided by NASCAR on FOX, you can see the incident from a different angle.

Another look at what happened. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/T11LKJOz2r

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2024

Below, provided by NASCAR on FOX and tweeted by Skewcar, you can ride along with 7-time champ, Jimmie Johnson and watch the accident unfold from his point of view.

Jimmie Johnson's on board cam of getting collected in the crash pic.twitter.com/QcPJENSwHH

— Skewcar (@Skewcar) February 19, 2024

Harrison Burton wasn’t shy about criticizing his peers in the NASCAR Cup Series. He thinks that it is ridiculous to be racing that aggressively that early on. He thinks that the field “should be better than that”.

Harrison Burton is okay, says the field should be better than that three wide, over crashing early in these races pic.twitter.com/kmYldPiZDb

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 19, 2024

Matt Weaver caught up with a very disappointed Carson Hocevar. Wrong place, wrong time.

Carson Hocevar just couldn't avoid the melee, disappointed pic.twitter.com/x4ahNHhLwM

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 19, 2024

Kaz Grala said that he never even got full throttle. He doesn’t know when he’ll get another opportunity to run in the Great American Race.

Kaz Grala is so disappointed; never even got full-throttle

"Now have to wait for next year, if that opportunity even comes." pic.twitter.com/cxCW7o2CbW

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 19, 2024

Around The Garage

Truck Series driver Thad Moffitt knows exactly how Carson Hocevar feels. A similar incident took him out of Friday night’s Truck Race.

. @CarsonHocevar I know how you feel man 😞

— Thad Moffitt (@thadmoffitt) February 19, 2024

As reported by Kelly Crandall, Kyle Busch is perplexed as to how they could have crashed already.

Kyle Busch wants to know, "How did we wreck already?" Busch was told it was the top row and offset bumpers

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) February 19, 2024

In The Stands

Fans are pretty united when it comes to pointing the finger in regards to who started the wreck. Charlie J says, without hesitation, “this guy happened”.

Gregory Totire posted this interesting point. Has the over-aggression from the Truck and ARCA Series trickled up to the Cup Series? Hmm…

RobEv is jumping on FOX Sports for being on bumper cam (and then strangely staying on it a smidge too long) as an incident was occurring.

Matt says that the 6 causing a wreck with a bad push literally NEVER happens. Weird!

On Your Screen

Brock Beard took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to post this fun fact:

Hocevar has now finished last in three different car numbers: No. 7 (Gateway), No. 42 (Las Vegas), and No. 77 (Daytona).

— Brock Beard (@LASTCARonBROCK) February 19, 2024

From The Pressbox

Tom Bowles reports that the swampy grass in the infield is as slick as ice.

Harrison Burton: "The grass was so wet, I thought we were going to be OK, but once we got in the grass, we just kept going and going and going."#NASCAR #Daytona500

— Tom Bowles (@NASCARBowles) February 19, 2024

Chris Knight reports that Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevy is officially parked for the evening.

Austin Dillon done for the day. #NASCAR

— Chris Knight (@Knighter01) February 19, 2024

UPDATE

As reported by FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Austin Dillon as rejoined the race and is running 52-laps off the pace.

Austin Dillon is back in the race … 52 laps down.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 19, 2024

Conclusion

What do you make of this incident, Daily Downforce readers? Surely this was completely avoidable, right? Is Brad K. to blame in your opinion or is this just a product of superspeedway-style racing? Let us know what you think in the comments section on all of our social media platforms. And be sure to keep it right here at DailyDownforce.com for all the latest news and discussions in the world of NASCAR! The 2024 season is officially underway!