NASCAR Cup Series

Johnson to drive a backup car after Kentucky practice wreck

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 2:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) Jimmie Johnson will drive a backup Chevy after wrecking his primary No. 48 car during Friday morning's practice at Kentucky Speedway.

Drivers are getting used to a new asphalt surface and configuration at the 1.5 mile tri-oval along with new NASCAR downforce rules. The six-time Sprint Cup Series champion had posted the second-fastest practice speed (188.121 mph) in 17 laps before his car sustained right-side damage after hitting the wall in turn 4, forcing him to drive a backup car in Saturday night's 400-mile race.

Johnson says he couldn't see where the track was clean, the car wouldn't turn ''in the marbles'' and he ended up in the wall.