After 25 wreck-free laps, Daytona International Speedway saw its first crash of the year during the Bud Shootout. On lap 29, Regan Smith bumped Carl Edwards who then got into Dale Earnhardt Jr., sending cars flying and taking out what appeared to be another five or six cars. Joey Lagano, Juan Pablo Montoya and others were powerless to avoid the carnages, with multiple cars taking heavy damage from the crash. For all intents and purposes, this was the big one of the Bud Shootout.
The second half started with Kyle Busch taking the lead, surging to the front with the bump draft. Earnhardt Jr. lost his draft just before the crash and appeared to be working back into it when he and Edwards collided. At over 200 miles per hour, there was little either driver, or those caught behind them in the wreck, could do to avoid it, with no escape to be found.
The Bud Shootout is under caution now, with Ryan Newman in the front. Jeff Burton, currently in third, has still led the most laps with 14, most of which came during the first half. Burton also led at the 10-minute intermission. Tony Stewart is in second and was just behind Newman when caution came out.
For more on the race, check out the Bud Shootout live-chat at SB Nation.