Newman to start Duel at back after engine change

Ryan Newman will start his 150-mile qualifying race at the back of the pack. The No. 39 Chevrolet suffered an engine malfunction in Wednesday's first practice session at Daytona International Speedway.

The team was forced to change engines for the afternoon practice session, and under NASCAR rules an engine change will require Newman, the defending Daytona 500 champion, to start Thursday's Gatorade Duel from the rear of the field. He was scheduled to start the second 150-mile qualifier from the outside pole.

"Something broke in the engine," Newman said. "I'm not really sure what. Obviously the horsepower has been great in qualifying and it felt strong out there. I was just coming up through the gears and getting up to speed and something let go.

"It's unfortunate. But these guys have another bullet they can bolt in and we'll be good to go."

Thursday's Duel will be Newman's debut for Stewart-Haas Racing, which receives its engines from Hendrick Motorsports. He had the fourth-fastest speed during qualifying on Sunday.

Waltrip, McMurray take wild ride

The No. 55 Toyota of Michael Waltrip and Jamie McMurray's No. 26 Ford sustained damage late in Wednesday afternoon's Cup practice session. In close drafting, Waltrip's car spun after contact from David Stremme's Dodge. Waltrip collected McMurray, who was drafting to the inside of Waltrip's Camry.

Side by side, Waltrip and McMurray slid through the infield. McMurray's Ford sustained most of its damage from dragging the front splitter through the infield. McMurray will go to a backup car for Thursday's first Gatorade Duel 150 and will start from the rear of the field.

"When the 55 hit me, it didn't really tear up a lot," McMurray said. "It just left a tire flat, and then most of the damage came from hitting the dirt."

Waltrip likewise will go to a backup and join McMurray at the back of the field for the start of the first Duel.

• Rookie Joey Logano posted the sixth-fastest practice time in the morning session but scraped the wall with his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and damaged the right side of his car -- but not seriously enough to go to a backup.

"It took a pretty good lick," crew chief Greg Zipadelli said. "But we'll get it fixed up for [Thursday]."

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• NASCAR Today: Newman, Waltrip to backups