The first wreck of the race involved Ryan Newman, Mark Martin and Kasey Kahne, among others. Credit: Autostock

Early crash ruins day of Kahne, Martin, Busch

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- The Big One at Talladega struck early, and no one seemed to know who caused it.

It was easy to determine what caused it, however.

Credit: Autostock

Official Results Aaron's 499 Pos. Driver Make 1. J. Johnson Chevrolet 2. T. Stewart Chevrolet 3. B. Vickers Chevrolet 4. J. Burton Chevrolet 5. J. McMurray Ford • Complete results, click here • Driver standings, click here Multi-car wreckFourteen cars are collected in a Lap 9 wreck Minor setbackDale Earnhardt Jr. spins on Lap 88 but suffers little damage Early exitDale Earnhardt Jr.'s engine expires on Lap 154 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

No fewer than five drivers entered Turn 3 at the same time during Monday's Aaron's 499, and the end result was a 13-car wreck that finished the day of championship contenders Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin and Kyle Busch.

Brian Vickers was on the bottom of the five-wide move. Vickers appeared to clear Carl Edwards, but Edwards' car bobbled and hit Kyle Busch, who wiggled and hit Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr.

"I know I didn't get into him," said Vickers, who finished third. "I had followed [Kurt Busch] for a lap and I was right behind him."

Kahne was hit multiple times in the crash, and he spent 15 minutes getting checked out in the infield medical center before finally being cleared to leave.

Kahne did not receive medical clearance to resume the race, so Evernham Motorsports used Hermie Sadler as a relief driver for seven laps. Kahne wound up 39th, easily his worst finish of the season.

"Everybody went five-wide and I knew something was going to happen," said Kahne, who dropped one spot to fourth in points. "We just got into the middle of everything. I don't know what happened but it was definitely the wrong time for it to happen."

The only one of the five to emerge from the wreck unscathed was Edwards, who later challenged the win before finishing eighth.

Martin was sitting on a director's chair in the garage a mere five minutes after the wreck. Martin, who has always been highly critical of restrictor-plate racing, was fourth in the points before the wreck.

"Please don't ask me what happened," said Martin, who fell to fifth in the standings. "I don't know. It's ridiculous. It is way beyond being angry.

"In 1982 it was a blast to race here, but in today's day and age it is hard to have fun when you know the pin is out of the grenade. It is just a matter of time before it goes off."

The crash sent Newman to a 33rd-place finish, his third consecutive finish of 30th or worse. His chances of making the Chase for the Nextel Cup for the third consecutive year also were damaged -- he fell from 22nd to 26th in the points.