Big hits in NASCAR Xfinity pileup force red flag wall repair at Talladega

"All hell broke loose," radioed Jeb Burton, who was at the epicenter of the 12-car crash

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Just 15 laps into Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity, chaos broke out near the front of the field. Driving through the tri-oval at NASCAR's superspeedway, playoff driver Sheldon Creed got loose and Jeb Burton hit him from behind.

While it seemed like just a close call at first, Burton's car shot up the track as a result and clipped another playoff driver -- Brandon Jones. The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Jones came back down the track, hooking Creed's No. 00 Haas Factory Ford back through the field and towards the outside wall.

Creed made huge contact with Ryan Sieg as he slammed the outside wall, ending his day. Creed was running fifth before the massive crash.

Several other drivers were collected in the crash, including yet another playoff driver -- Sam Mayer. When Jeremy Clements got collected in the crash, he spun back down the track where he got slammed by Mayer, Jordan Anderson, and Anthony Alfredo.

Kyle Sieg, Brenden Queen, Ryan Ellis, and Harrison Burton were also involved in the crash, bringing the total number of drivers involved to 12.

"00 [Creed] checked up," radioed Burton. "I got into the back of him, and all hell broke loose."

NASCAR immediately red-flagged the race, and not just because of the obvious carnage. Creed's impact with the outside wall actually caused damage, and the SAFER Barrier was repaired during the stoppage. The red flag lasted 16 minutes and 19 seconds.

The following drivers were unable to continue after the early wreck: Both Haas drivers with Creed and Mayer, but also Sieg, Queen, Anderson, and Clements.

"I just saw the 20 [Jones] sideways, and then I was just along for the ride," said Sieg after being released from the infield care center. "Thought I was through it, and then the 00 came up right in front of me. I didn't eve have time to brace, so those are always harder when you don't know it's coming ... just wrong place, wrong time."

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Category: General Sports