Kentucky was tough on everyone, but especially on the rookie drivers.
In Saturday night’s Quaker State 400, four rookie contenders were caught up in a pair of multicar crashes. Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, both in position to challenge for a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, crashed shortly after a restart on Lap 87.
MORE: NASCAR champions through the years
Both drivers had been racing among the leaders in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race when contact between the two sent both to the outside wall.
“Unfortunately we took (Elliott) out; obviously not intentional, not what you want,” Blaney said on NBC.