LONG POND, Pa. – bBefore the completion of Lap 1 in Sunday’s Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway, an eight-car crash ignited when Matt Kenseth broke loose while racing seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Battling for a spot securely in the top-15, Kenseth’s No. 20 ToyotaCare Toyota got loose in Turn 3 and immediately threw up a cloud of smoke as he tried to stay off the wall.
Behind him, the field scattered trying to avoid a sideways Kenseth but several were collected in the melee in the process including Aric Almirola, Matt DiBenedetto, Austin Dillon, Paul Menard, Michael McDowell and Danica Patrick.
Almirola and DiBenedetto received the most damage in the crash. Almirola who missed the June edition of Pocono while recovering from a back injury received at Kansas Speedway wasn’t even credited with finishing a lap.
“I have no idea,” said Almirola when asked what happened. “Our Smithfield Ford Fusion was really good to start off there. I had passed about seven cars the first two corners. I was making a lot of progress and then we got to Turn 3 and everybody just stacked up.
“I saw some smoke. I saw some cars stopped. I got piled in from behind and just drove into the accident. I haven’t seen a replay and have no idea what caused the wreck. Sort of a bummer not to even make a whole lap. Not our day.”
DiBenedetto who earned a season-high eighth place finish last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway completed just one lap Sunday after using the grass to escape the carnage. The grass, however, caused significant front-end damage to his No. 32 Dick Stevens Jerky & Trail Mix Ford resulting in a 38th place finish.
Kenseth who triggered the incident finished ninth.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
