Waltrip, Gaughan find wall during qualifying

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Hot, slick conditions contributed to a trio of accidents during Bud Pole Qualifying for Saturday's Sharpie 500.

Crew members work on the No. 15 car Credit: Autostock

Michael Waltrip brushed the frontstretch wall on his second qualifying lap, sending him onto the track's apron. Once there, his car bottomed out, shot up the concrete and careened against the Turn 1 wall.

The impact crushed the right side of the car. Waltrip exited under his own power and was released from the infield medical center without injury.

The team will go to a backup No. 15 Chevrolet.

Brendan Gaughan qualified a respectable 17th before he slapped the wall on his second lap, but his wreck was nowhere near as severe as Waltrip's.

VIDEO Waltrip Wrecks Michael Waltrip puts his car into the wall during his qualifying run

Gaughan's No. 77 Dodge had damage on the right side, but the front clip was intact, and the rookie hopes the team can repair the damage, although Gaughan lost valuable practice time as a result.

Gaughan said he might having driven the car a little too hard -- he was trying to score a top-10 starting spot after performing well in the first practice.

"We were a little too loose and I was trying to get all we could,' said Gaughan. "I got loose going into (Turn) 3 and couldn't catch it."

"We are going to see if we can't get it fixed and keep this Dodge for the race. It's a good one."

Tony Ave crashed the No. 80 Ford early in the session and failed to qualify for the race. Ave also spun in the first practice.