Ford drivers took five of the top six spots.
NASCAR started the race under wet conditions and that decision turned into a disaster when Kyle Busch, the polesitter, spun on the slick track and wrecked only six laps into the race. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin also spun and the red flag was waved to stop the race. Truex and Hamlin returned to race. Busch’s race in the No. 18 Toyota was over and he bit his tongue on NASCAR’s call to start the race.
“It never should have gone green to begin with, but then it kept getting worse and worse lap over lap,” Busch said. “We’ve been talking about it for two laps that it was raining. There’s no sense in saying what I want to say, it doesn’t do you any good.”
Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire
Brad Keselowski makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Denny Hamlin competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Chase Elliott competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Ryan Blaney competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire >Brad Keselowski makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Denny Hamlin competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Chase Elliott competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa >Ryan Blaney competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa
How did it happen?
Pole sitter Kyle Busch jumped to the lead ahead of Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott through the first corner as misty conditions surrounded the track. Busch led the first six laps but the asphalt got increasingly wet as drivers complained about moisture on the speedway. On lap 7, Busch couldn’t find any grip, sending him spinning into the outside wall in turn 2. Truex followed suit as several others (Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain) either spun or slid into other cars, suffering damage. Elliott slowed way down and avoided the two leaders in one of the more bizarre situations in recent NASCAR history.
Almirola s victory halts poor stretch nwaonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nwaonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.