DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Sometimes, an incident is unavoidable.
Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited came to an early end for Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson, as both drivers were caught up in the same accident.
On Lap 45 of the 75-lap event, two competitors made contact near the front of the pack, and it began a chain reaction through the field.
"I didn't see much, there was so much smoke and then grass and stuff flying around," Johnson recalled.
More than half of the 24 cars on the track suffered some sort of damage in the incident, including Johnson and Kahne.
"I was slowing down and then the track was dirty and it was hard to not lock the brakes," Kahne explained. "I would lock them and release then I would lock them and I just couldn't really get slowed down enough."
It sent both drivers to the garage and ended their nights. It was not an uncommon fate on Saturday, as just 12 cars took the checkered flag in the 25-driver Sprint Unlimited.
Ultimately, Johnson said, even a shortened time on the track will be helpful for next Sunday's Daytona 500.
"I hate that we tore up a car," he said, "but I got some good experience in the draft and understand my race car a lot better."