The final 12 laps of the last chance qualifying race of the NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium were chaotic Sunday.
Following a wild crash with Ty Gibbs and Justin Haley ended with Gibbs’ car going airborne, Hendersonville’s Josh Berry, in his first season with Wood Brothers Racing, and Erik Jones restarted on the front row.
Going into turn 3, Jones checked up into Berry, who checked into Kyle Larson, which started chain reaction with Larson hitting Berry and Berry hitting Jones and moved Jones into the outside of a three-wide situation.
Coming to the start/finish line, Larson hit Berry, who hit Jones, spinning Jones out and hitting Larson’s front bumper and caused damage to the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Larson ended up winning the last chance qualifying race and Berry earned the second transfer spot into the 200-lap main event, which is set for later Sunday on FOX.
“I could tell early on the car was really strong and I just tried to be as patient as I could,” Berry said to FOX Sports reporters. “Once we got to halfway, it (was) time to go. I hate the one with Erik, I was just trying to tuck in I don’t really know the timing of it all. It’s just tough racing on a short track.”
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Larson said he was happy with the way his car ran in the race and changed from too tight in the corners at time to becoming too loose after the incident with Jones and the damage to his front bumper.
“I wish I could have fired off better on that restart,” Larson said. “We would probably have a pristine car for the race now. After the damage, I was loose through the whole corner. Hopefully we can get somewhat repaired here and get it a little bit better.”
Chase Elliott, Larson’s teammate, is on pole for the 200-lap Clash main event. Larson will start 21st, Berry will start 22nd and Ryan Blaney will start 23rd after receiving a provisional starting spot based on points.
Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kyle Larson, Josh Berry, transfer to NASCAR Clash after late crash
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