Monday's race at Watkins Glen was the site of one of the nastiest crashes of the Sprint Cup season. It all started on lap 63 when Kasey Kahne dove inside Sam Hornish Jr. coming out of turn 9 and sent Hornish off onto the grass on the left side. Hornish hit the tire barrier hard and helicoptered back onto the track, where he was T-boned by Jeff Gordon. Gordon spun into the Armco barrier that lines the track. Andy Lally, Jeff Burton and Joey Logano also were involved. Hornish's 77 car got the worst of it.

It took 19 minutes and 35 seconds to clear the debris off the track during the ensuing red flag caution that seems to have become a rite of summer at Watkins Glen. None of the drivers were seriously injured. Gordon said the crash set back the progress being made on healing his injured back. "It's just not what I needed,'' said Gordon. "You take three or four steps forward, take a hit like that, and take a couple back. I knew he was going to ricochet off. I just hoped I could get by him."

Added Gordon: "It took a toll on my back again. If we were going to Bristol next week, I'd be concerned. Every time I take a hit, it seems to recover. We'll be all right.''

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