Nascar Race Today

Kevin Harvick blows an engine, while Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski assert themselves at the front.

It's been an eventful first 100 laps to the rain-delayed Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR's seventh race of the season began under caution as moisture from Sunday's heavy downpour seeped through the surface. When the green flag did wave after 10 laps under the yellow, Dale Earnhardt Jr. quickly found trouble, clipping the infield portion of the front stretch and slamming the outside. The rear of the No. 88 car became engulfed in flames, but Earnhardt was able to scamper to safety uninjured.

Collected in the wreck was defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who sustained damage to the nose of his car and a broken windshield. Johnson would later suffer a flat tire and fall two laps off the pace.

Kevin Harvick's star-crossed season continued, as an engine failure sent him to the garage early. Since winning Phoenix, the second race of the year, Harvick finished 41st, 39th, 36th and seventh in subsequent weeks largely due to mechanical failures, and entered Texas ranked 25th in points. He will finish 42nd Monday.

As three pre-race favorites encountered various issues, Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin established themselves as contenders. Starting on the pole, Stewart led three times for 74 laps before sliding down the running order due to an ill-handling car. Hamlin and Keselowski then exchanged the lead, with Hamlin leading as the race reached Lap 140.